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�e 6C!) El ID Michigan Street Shops Holiday Retail Program Background Last year, with great success, DTSB in partnership with the City of South Bend, launched the region's first holiday pop -up shop program of its kind. The uniqueness and creativity of the idea garnered an immense amount of positive media attention that still, over a'' /z year later; has people in the community talking. Our phone has already begun to ring with inquiries about the potential of repeating the Holiday Pop -Up Shop program again this year. Last year's programwas a definite success. The goals were to enhance the visitor experience when coming downtown for the holidays, support the existing retail and restaurants through synergy and the positive effects of clustering, and, to provide businesses a chance to test -drive downtown as a location. Above and beyond the stated goals, the program cast downtown South Bend as a business friendly location that brings creative solutions to bear upon their problems. We also were able to retain one of the shops, Imagine That! Imagine That! has been a full -out participant in all the downtown events that DTSB has worked to put together, so not only did the Michigan Street Shops gain a rent - paying tenant in a formerly vacant space, but downtown received a "best in class" retailer. We learned a few things from our initial experience, and with your blessings, intent to launch the program a little earlier this year. The Proposal To offer established business operatorsa no -cost, short-term lease from November 1, 2011 — January 8, 2012 for both 121 and 123 S. Michigan Street, the former Spark Fine Stationary and Cort Furniture spaces. We would like to make the spaces available by October 15, 2011 for the participants to begin setting up their storefronts. This opportunity will be offered through an application process (sample application from last year is attached, modifications may be made). Businesses will be selected based on the appeal of their product mix for holiday shoppers, how well their concept works in synergy with current full -time tenants, their ability to add excitement to the festive holiday atmosphere through in -store events, promotions, and the quality of their window displays. Stores selling the following goods will be given priority: 1