By Joshua Burd
The Main Street Business Alliance in Hackensack is teaming with downtown property owners to provide spaces for pop-up stores that could ultimately become permanent tenants.
Known as Pop-Up on Main, the program aims to attract entrepreneurs by offering free rent for a limited period, according to a news release. All the while, the alliance will provide assistance with the Hackensack zoning process to ensure the arrangements go as smoothly as possible.
“Pop-Up on Main is a perfect example of what can happen when you bring the business community and property owners together to think outside the box to address some vacancies on Main Street,” said John T. Peters, executive director of the Main Street Business Alliance. “Our mission is to address the issues facing the business community with the goal of improving the local economy and the overall business climate in Hackensack. What better way to accomplish this than to bring some new energy to Main Street in the form of entrepreneurs who want to start storefront businesses?”
The initiative is a joint effort between the alliance, a public-private partnership that has helped influence redevelopment in the downtown in recent years, and select property owners.
“Main Street in Hackensack is a thriving community of retail locations and new residential buildings,” Peters added. “This is the perfect way for a potential tenant to come in, give Main Street a try and get access to the thousands of residents on Main Street. Residents then get to try out new stores right here on Main Street.
“Moving into a new space can be costly, so we’ll pair the right tenants with the right property owners who’ll offer free rent for a few months. We already have two property owners and five potential retail spaces for the program.”
