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The City of New Haven is inventing new ways to connect creative entrepreneurs with resources to grow their businesses by giving them space inside New Haven’s train station through the Project Storefronts program. Hosted by Park New Haven, the first-ever Street Fair Inside Union Station takes place July 18-19, 2014.
Says Elinor Slomba, Project Storefronts’ Program Manager, “Here in this beautiful station we wanted to create some of that Grand Central-style buzz while showcasing New Haven’s entrepreneurs and cultural organizations from different neighborhoods.”
Music and brightly-colored banners will attract people to the West Lobby where the Street Fair will be taking place. Foot traffic and sales will be measured so that improvements can be made in the future.
Sixteen entrepreneurs will be featured, including:
- Gordon Skinner who designed a new line of merchandise featuring his collages while stationed at Popup55 last month on Church Street.
- Alfreda Warner of Fair Haven, who had envisioned starting a business with her sister after they both retired from Yale. The company, V’s Accessories, is named in her sister’s memory.
- Nadine Nelson, a chef from Newhallville who designs culinary experiences based on cultural themes. She will offer a selection of cookbooks, spices and kitchen accessories.
- Angelina Ludwig who makes colorful scented handmade soaps.
Information on upcoming exhibitions and a selection of prints and postcards will be also available from the New Haven Museum, Silk Road Gallery, The Hill Museum of the Arts and the Gallery at Ele-Mar.
In keeping with the transit-themed location, Devil’s Gear Bike Shop will display foldable bicycles.
According to Dave Panagore, Executive Director for Park New Haven, “The timing, occasion and partnership are right. When Project Storefronts first approached us with their idea we had been thinking along similar lines. We all want people arriving in New Haven to experience New Haven and appreciate its cultural diversity. Mayor Harp sees Union Station as a prime location for promoting what New Haven has to offer. We also encourage travelers to come early over these two days and shop for unique gifts before catching their train or bus.”
The Street Fair will be in operation Friday, July 18 from 4-9pm and Saturday, July 19 from 9am-2pm. Entrepreneurs and vendors of creative products wishing to be included in future fairs can submit information via this link:
ABOUT PROJECT STOREFRONTS:
Project Storefronts is a program that fuses the city’s creative sector with small business development. It grew out of the Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism efforts to diversify how they engage with artists and the community. DACT partners with the Economic Development Corporation of New Haven and the city’s Office of Economic Development along with the State of Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development Office of the Arts.
Project Storefronts works with property owners to secure free access to their vacant retail spaces. The program has been successful in helping landlords to rent their empty spaces. Meanwhile, the donated space helps creative entrepreneurs to test the viability of new, innovative business and retail initiatives while also educating them about what it takes to be a successful businessperson.
For more information please visit:
About Park New Haven:
Park New Haven proudly serves the people of New Haven and its visitors with over 8,000 economical public parking spaces at the Air Rights, Crown Street, Temple Street, Temple Medical, Granite Square, Gateway Community College, and Union Station Garages, and at numerous surface facilities conveniently located in downtown New Haven and in surrounding residential neighborhoods. Additionally, Park New Haven serves the well-being and economic development of the New Haven community by providing financially self-sustaining, safe, convenient and economical off-street parking and related services. For more information on Park New Haven, please visitwww.parknewhaven.com
