San Francisco’s Vacant to Vibrant pop-up program is about three weeks in, with the vibrance more like a promising spark.
The program in the Financial District has 17 budding businesses in nine storefronts, with the initiative offering, at the very least, a breath of fresh air, inviting exploration of a district with hidden potential, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The project, which officially started Oct. 6, was the result of a year-long collaboration between the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the nonprofit SF New Deal.
Building owners provided rent-free spaces for six months, and after a lengthy selection process from over 800 applicants, nine vendors were chosen to receive grants and storefronts. The lineup includes a doughnut shop, an art gallery, a crafts store, a public radio station, bakeries, and a nonprofit sewing factory.
“This isn’t an ideal we’re working toward. We’re trying things,” Sarah Dennis Phillips, a representative of the program, told the outlet. “Anybody who tells you they know where cities are headed right now, in this time of transition, they don’t know what they’re talking about.”
While some businesses operate only a few days a week, others grapple with their visibility due to architectural barriers and quiet sidewalks. Yet there are promising glimpses of success. For example, Yonder, a local crafts store, and GCS Agency, boasting eclectic art displays, have managed to capture attention. Additionally, the program has brought non-traditional businesses like an industrial sewing class and a community-oriented media company into the financial heart of the city.
The most flourishing businesses within the program seem to be those catering to food and drink. Devil’s Teeth Bakery and Green Apple Books have garnered attention with their delectable offerings and carefully curated bookshelves, highlighting the program’s potential to bring life back to the district.
“Even last Sunday, around 10 a.m., there was a line out the door. It’s awesome,” Devil’s Teeth owner Hilary Passman told the outlet. “Downtown is not empty. It just hasn’t been well served.”
While acknowledging that the road ahead is long, the program’s backers remain hopeful, planning to gather feedback from businesses and potentially concentrating the pop-ups more cohesively.
— Ted Glanzer