LAFAYETTE, IN — After serving as a revolving door of restaurants and bars in recent years, the corner of Sixth and Main streets will soon become a different revolving door of sorts, supporting up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the process.
"Local," a retail pop-up experiment spearheaded by MatchBOX Studios and the Downtown Lafayette Business Owners Association (DBLOA), will host a grand opening event on Nov. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. inside the storefront at 601 Main St.
Inside Local, two 500-square-foot "white-boxed storefronts" will host local entrepreneurs on 30-day term limits, a news release said, designed for product-based business owners to pilot concepts, build a customer base and test run the possibility of a long-term brick-and-mortar store.
The concept was made possible through collaboration between MatchBOX, the DBLOA and The Heartland Concept, a local company that focuses on real estate and property renovations, with financial support from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and First Merchants Bank.
Dennis Carson, director of economic development for the city of Lafayette, said in the release that Local is a practical on ramp to permanent storefronts.
“Short, affordable terms let entrepreneurs validate demand, refine operations, and grow into long-term leases," Carson said in the release. "At the same time, we’re activating a key corner downtown and strengthening Main Street’s vibrancy.”
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