6C(6) Approval of Michigan St. Shops Holiday Retail Program

Home Browse Search

i!n C- C 0 J El El Michigan Street Shops Holiday Retail Program Background Over the past several years, Downtown South Bend Inc. (DTSB) has provided first class decorations, events, and activities that draw people downtown over the holidays. The final piece of the equation is to expand a robust core of thriving retailers in downtown. Business owners have expressed cautious interest in downtown, speaking favorably of the atmosphere. This program will give retailers a chance to "test- drive" spaces in downtown. The Proposal To offer established business operators a no -cost short -term lease from December 1, 2010 — January 2, 2011. This opportunity will be by invitation only, and extended by the Director of Downtown Business recruitment to targeted businesses who fit into the overall retail plan that is being developed for downtown. Stores selling the following goods will be approached: • Gifts • Home goods and accessories • Specialty food and /or wine • Arts and culture related items • Toys DTSB will promote the locations and hours of these new stores in conjunction with advertising and marketing of downtown holiday events and activities. These short -term tenants will agree to be open certain hours which will include daytime and evening hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the month of December (excluding Christmas day). Timeline: • We will allow the program participants access to the store - fronts in November, at a date to be determined, to set -up their stores. • Stores will complete set -up by December 1st and ready to open for business. • The stores will have their grand opening December 3 t in conjunction with the First Friday Holiday Open House. • We will also allow time in January for the stores to clear out of the spaces. We will consider proposals for a similar Valentines Day venture at this time, unless a long -term lease is signed for the space in question.