Inside Stories

Look What’s Popping Up!

The Department of Planning and Development’s Economic Development Office is pleased to announce the opening of Project Pop-Up: Lowell at 51 Market Street. All are invited to the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 3:00PM, at 51 Market Street, Lowell.

Project Pop-Up is an initiative created to revitalize Lowell’s Downtown. By contracting with UpNext LLC to curate a pop-up space in Lowell’s central business district, this program will create a retail incubator space at 51 Market Street in a previously vacant storefront, and with it a pipeline of retailers to establish themselves in Downtown Lowell.

The first two brands to open at the pop-up are run by Lowell-based business owners: Mill City Mercantile and The Merrimack Co.

There will be successive brands popping up throughout the two-year term of Project Pop-Up: Lowell. For the brands that pop up and want to sign a lease to stay in Lowell longer-term, the Economic Development Office will make incentives available to them, such as CDBG-funded Small Business Expansion Forgivable Loan program, tax credits in certified vacant storefronts through the Massachusetts Vacant Storefront Program, and other opportunities as appropriate.

The total cost for the Project Pop-Up Retail Incubator will be $200,000 in ARPA funds, and it will run through December 2025.

Please contact Ali Carter, Director of Economic Development, at acarter@lowellma.gov or (978) 674-1432, with any questions.

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