Authored By Chloé Morrison

Leaders of River City Company announced Thursday the list of budding businesses selected to be a part of Project: PopUp, a retail incubator program that will give participants first-floor commercial space and six months’ free rent in the 800 block of Chestnut Street.

“Studies show that city streets are activated by lively retail,” River City President Kim White said in a prepared statement. “This is the very reason retail recruitment is a major focus area for River City Company. Retail is a critical component of a healthy and vibrant downtown and contributes significantly to economic development.”

White recently told Nooga.com that retail recruitment is an important part of the company’s mission, and that in addition to free rent, tenants will get facade enhancement and business development courses.

The tenants selected are:

–Iron Labs is an interactive gaming experience that allows gamers to become immersed through a unique environment, extreme hardware and an unmatched gaming experience. At the end of May, Nooga.com interviewed Iron Labs leaders, who are also participating in the Gig Tank.

-Go Bagel, which River City leaders said is quick stop for breakfast, a leisurely lunch or a midday break. The shop will offer bagels, pastries, espresso, soups and salads.

-Sewn to the Sky is a gift and textiles shop featuring a mix of handmade goods by local and regional artists/craftspersons with a selection of modern designer fabrics and vintage décor.

-O.C. Buckels & Co. is an innovative department store concept that includes a selection of finely crafted goods from independent designers across the country and a unique post-consumer art and craft supply market with pay-as-you-wish pricing. O.C. Buckels & Co. is also home to Chatty Crafty, Chattanooga’s first handmade and vintage market.

-Tasty Daylight Donuts is a bakery that prepares fresh doughnuts daily.

The businesses will make up the new retail cluster in CitiPark on Chestnut Street.

A selection committee made up of existing downtown retailers chose Project: PopUp participants. Each finalist interviewed with panelists before a final decision was made as to who would fill the spaces.

“We received over 20 applications for Project: PopUp and chose the concepts we believed would complement downtown’s current retail mix and help create excitement for downtown as a unique retail destination,” Blair Waddell, retail recruiter for River City Company, said in a statement.

River City Company launched Project: PopUp in partnership with Berry & Hunt, which manages the CitiPark property.

A soft opening of the Project: PopUp stores will be in early August, and a grand opening is scheduled for mid- to late August.

“We’re looking forward to partnering with creative groups and coming up with some ideas of our own on how we can transform Chestnut Street,” Tiffanie Robinson, director of Creative Strategies, said in a prepared statement. “The block has so much potential, and we want to see it thrive. Adding the retailers will help, but next, our goal is to get feet on the street.”

