Community development organizers are hoping to turn Bridgeport”™s historic Arcade Mall into an entrepreneurial hub of creativity.
The largely empty 1889 shopping mall will soon be home to five new arts-oriented businesses supported by CreateHereNow, a pilot economic development program to fill vacant storefronts.
“We”™re really hoping to turn it into a destination site,” said Eve Liptak, CreateHereNow project manager. “Our top priority is to see businesses start up, grow and become part of the neighborhood”™s activation.”
With the goal of rebranding Bridgeport as a city of creativity instead of crime, CreateHereNow gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to open up art galleries, cafes, bike repair shops and consignment stores in currently vacant storefronts. Based on a similar program in New Haven, the project allows entrepreneurs to test out their business ideas rent-free for 90 days with free consultation and business tips along the way.
At the end of the trial period, program officials work with business owners and landlords to negotiate a price on rent. The Bridgeport program is funded by a $60,000 grant from the state Department of Economic and Community Development, with state officials hoping to launch similar initiatives in 19 additional cities.
Since the program was announced in January, more than 60 budding entrepreneurs have sent in applications to be considered for the program. About 10 landlords with multiple vacant properties have also agreed to participate.
“The response we”™ve gotten really shows the need for something like this and that creative entrepreneurs can be stakeholders in their city and help revitalize and change Bridgeport,” Liptak said.
The businesses moving into Arcade Mall, which is about two blocks from the Metro-North Railroad station, are the first five businesses to get started in the program. Later, businesses are expected to move into storefronts along Main Street, which is also where CreateHereNow has opened up its office.
The businesses set to open later this month at the mall include screen-printing studio Paradox Ink, jeweler Made in Bridgeport, event planner Magnacon 7 and two others.
Simultaneously, Ripka”™s Bull”™s Head Market, a grocery store that isn”™t tied to the CreateHereNow initiative, will be opening in the Arcade Mall.
For 10 years Liz Squillace has run Paradox Ink out of a private studio in Bridgeport. But with the promise of free rent, Squillace said the program was what she needed to take her business to the next level and open up a public workshop and retail space.
“The craft is really cool and I”™ve been doing it so many years, it”™s kind of time,” Squillace said about opening a storefront. “It”™s really nice to show other people how to do it, it”™s really gratifying.”
Squillace said she isn”™t sure how well the business experiment will work, but said that if she can increase her revenue stream by at least $1,000, she”™ll stay.
“It”™s exciting to see what will happen to Bridgeport as more empty storefronts are activated,” said Squillace, who grew up in Trumbull. “It has so much potential and so much could happen with the arts community working together.”
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