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It’s a Pop-up-Palooza!

Introducing: Five new pop-up-shops coming to the ‘hood 

DECA has been working around the clock to put together the next round of Danforth East Pop-Up Shops. Many thanks to Tina Novotny for preparing this post on behalf of the DECA pop-up team! 

It’s summertime, and the living is easy – easy to get great deals on fashion finds on Danforth East running between Monarch Park Avenue and Woodbine Avenue. That’s because we’re welcoming five new pop-up shops with fashion proprietors who can get you dressed to your best for less! We also have an award-winning bakery in our midst, Yummy Stuff, which will have you feeling as good as you look when you sample their wares – including the best red velvet cupcakes in the city! Morag Cleeveley and her Yummy staff have been baking up a storm since 2003, creating delights using fresh premium ingredients.

Of the cutting-edge clothiers who will be opening shop, E-closet is a women’s clothing store that delivers top quality trendy and affordable fashion, online and now in person. Cheap Thrills sells all sorts of great name items: all new, samples, seconds for the whole family and other random, neat stuff too. In This Closet: Thrift for Her offers the best of thrift pricing with a boutique experience for quality and unique fashions for women sizes 0-20. Returning popular pop-up proprietor Krystle Lee offers a curated selection of new and gently used high-end clothing & accessories.

Passport Promotion

New this season is the DECA passport promotion. Visit all the locations on the DECA Passport, then drop off completed cards at any of the stores to be entered in the draw for a prize pack, courtesy of the participating shops. Watch your mail for your passport flyer or pick one up at the East Lynn Farmers’ Market.

Launch Weekend – June 15-16, 2013

The summer pop-ups will kick off with an activity-filled launch weekend June 15th and 16th, which will feature:

  • live music by Kevin Brathwaite, The Note Poachers, Fine Grind, Emily and Jackson Steinwall, Saluki Music Ensembles, The Sleepovers and Deanna Petcoff
  • sidewalk artists
  • free treats courtesy of Yummy Stuff
  • guided historical Danforth East walks Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10:00a.m..

The guided walks will be led by Danforth East’s own Stephen Wickens and Dominic Farrell, the walking tours will last approximately 90 minutes; participants are invited to meet at Wise Guys at 2174  Danforth Avenue. at 10 a.m. This is the perfect opportunity for those who missed Stephen’s very popular Jane’s Walk last month. For all the details on the pop-ups and launch weekend check out the DECA website http://danfortheastcommunityassociation.com/summer-pop-up-shops/

Get to know the ‘hood like you should! And don’t forget to support all the new pop-ups and your favourite retailers all along Danforth East. Fill your passport and you can win great prizes!

DECA would like to extend special thanks to Manzer Hair Studio (2171 Danforth Ave), Danforth Sandwich (2116 Danforth Ave), Silly Goose Kids (2054 Danforth Ave), Cake Town Cafe (2039 Danforth Ave), Better Bulk (2044 Danforth Ave), Madame Gateaux (2034 Danforth Ave) and Circus Coffee House (7 Woodmount) for supporting the Pop-up Passport. A big thank you also to Malcolm at Home Hardware (2151 Danforth Ave) for providing materials for our pop-up signs.

 
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Investing 101 Reminder, Community Space & A Note from LEN

Investing 101

A reminder that the DECA Learns Investing 101 event will be held at Lazy Daisy’s Cafe on Monday at 7:30pm.  Hope to see you there ready to make millions ;)

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Community Space at Artisans at Work

The crew at Artisan at Work are looking to expand!  And in order to do some renovations to their space to make a 1000 square foot community space they are looking to crowdsource funding. If you’d like to contribute to this unique community hub, check out their fundraising page.

A note from LEN:

Christal and I are super-excited to deliver East Danforth’s second-most anticipated spring resurrection – LEN!

Thanks to DECA, most of our neighbours already know that we’ve returned, this time for good. We have a sweet little location at 698 Coxwell Ave, right at the corner of Coxwell and Danforth (thanks again to DECA and an our amazing client, Mary, both of whom connected us to the space!).

So, all East Danforth residents and visitors need fret (or travel outside DECA boundaries) no longer in order to make your home beautiful, woo a special someone or even start a meaningful art collection.

To celebrate and say thanks to everyone for their AMAZING support, we’re preparing a nice little day-long launch celebration for May 11th. This Saturday. 11am-6pm. There’ll be treats and bubbly beverages.

We also made sure we stocked the shop full of especially beautiful things for Mother’s Day. Our prices are more democratic than ever with original Fine Art from established Canadian artists starting at $50, luxurious bath products from Quebec for $11, unbelievably cute organic soy wax candles at $6, Janet Stein sterling silver and semi-precious stone jewelry that’s rare, refined and on-trend for under $100 and spectacular handmade wood cutting boards and other kitchen items starting at $50.

Can’t wait to see our favourite clients and meet new friends this Saturday! To keep up to date on the latest LENvents make sure to visit www.len4all.com, follow LEN on Twitter (@Len4All) and like us on Facebook (facebook.com/Len4All). Even better, visit us in person, 5 days a week during regular business hours or book a private appointment by email (len@len4all.com).

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Pop-Up: Musical Talent & New Business Alerts

Musical Talent?

June is going to be a busy time for Danforth East. The Pop-Up Team is busy planing a ‘Pop-Up-Apaloza’ of activities all month long and are looking for musicians/bands of all types to volunteer at the June launch. Although we do not have money to compensate alternate arrangements can be made – like busking or community hour for students. Please contact Maximilien if you’re interested.

New Business Alerts

A few weeks ago we hinted that a new business would be moving into 698 Coxwell where S Sense previously operated out of. Well it’s now official. After a successful experience as a pop-up shop in December and January Len: Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art & Beautiful Things is back in the neighbourhood. They will be doing a soft opening this Saturday, May 4th from 11-6 PM and would love to see their friends from the pop-up shop come in to say hello. Next Saturday, May 11th they will have a Grand Opening with tasty treats for all! And if you haven’t made the connection yet, May 11th is the day before Mother’s Day.

In other pop-up news, one of the vacant store fronts that was the home to the original pop-up shop in October has been rented. Canadian Nutrition Super Stores has opened at 1948 Danforth (formerly Metro Nails). So if you are a fitness enthusiast or wishing you were then you should stop in to say hello to Deon, the store manager. Apparently they aim to please and are offering a 20% discount on everything in the store right now. They don’t mind special orders or stocking special items either. Welcome to the neighbourhood Deon!

Len

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Don’t forget about this Saturday’s Jane’s Walk in our neighbourhood with DECA’s own Steve Wickens @ 10:00 a.m.! For more details, click here.

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Design Help, Safety Notice & Hootenanny for Earl Haig PS

Are you a Graphic Designer?

The Pop-Up shop team is looking for some help with design work.  They’re a fun group.  And they’re helping to make our stretch of the Danforth more vibrant!  If you have design skills to contribute please email the team.

Safety Warning from 54 Division

There have been a number of break-ins into homes in the Parkview Hills community.  These break-ins have been occurring in homes that are under construction and have been taking place in the overnight hours.  Residents are advised to be alert to any strange acitivity in their community.  Power tools have been targeted in these particular break-ins and residents with homes under construction are reminded not to store power tools in their unoccupied homes.  All tools should be engraved identifying them as belonging to the owner, using an identifiable mark such as the driver’s licence number.

East End Hootenanny

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Pop-UP with DECA – Call for tenant applications

Pop-UP With DECA This June!

The call for tenants for the next round of Pop-Up Shops is on!

Deadline is May 15, 2013, we’re hoping for Pop-Up-a-Looza of 16 – 18 shops opening in mid-June. Help us to renew East Danforth!

Application + FAQs + guidelines for the June launch of Pop Up Shops can be found at the DECA website. Tell your friends. Tell your family. See below for more info!

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The Danforth East Community Association (DECA) is now calling for proposals for pop-up shops to take place in otherwise empty spaces on Danforth between Monarch Park Avenue and Main Street.

Deadline for applications is midnight Wednesday May 15, 2013.

The Pop-Up Project aims to bring activity to Danforth’s otherwise empty properties between Monarch Park Avenue and Main Street. DECA brokers temporary access to these spaces to allow arts projects, unique enterprises or community activities to flourish. This generates activity and interest in the east end of the city, enhances the cultural life of the city, provides opportunities to groups/individuals who would otherwise have limited access to space, and improves the look and feel of Danforth. Click here to read more about The Pop-up Project.

THERE ARE VACANT STORE FRONTS ON THE DANFORTH WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING TO FILL. ARE YOU INTERESTED?

WHAT ARE THE TERMS AND COSTS?

TERMS
Up to six-month rolling leases with a 30-day notice period.

COSTS
Variable – Participation Fee is $165 per week (to cover taxes, utilities and admin). This equates to approximately $750 per month. After the first month, tenants will be expected to pay landlords the participation fee plus 10% of sales beyond $7500 each month.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

• If you run a unique store that will draw shoppers to the neighbourhood

• If you are a maker of fashion, jewellery, housewares, art objects, toys, kids clothes, trinkets or other fantastic things; or a creator of prints, photography, illustration, sculpture, painting, textiles or other art

• If you want to run a gallery or exhibition space for yourself or a collective of artists

• If you run a fitness, activity or learning program for children, youth and/or adults

• If you sell specialty products that aren’t currently available in the neighbourhood

• If you are part of a small collective of emerging creative professionals with diverse practices but a shared vision wanting to make your own hub in a shared office space

• If you have a low impact, small scale art studio practice suited for a clean office environment (photography, illustration, design, fashion, video, animation etc)

• If you run a community/not-for-profit project which would otherwise not have access to space

THERE ARE THREE INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR PROPOSAL

1. UNIQUE OR ORIGINAL PRODUCTS/WORKS
An opportunity for entrepreneurs, artists, craftspeople and designers who have products and/or activities and what to expand their audiences and test a bricks & mortar retail and gallery opportunity. They might already sell online or at markets, or have a body of works ready to show. In all instances we are looking for enterprise at a stage that won’t compete directly/unfairly with existing business. We encourage artists who create their own works and entrepreneurs who sell products not available on our strip of Danforth between Monarch Park Avenue and Main Street.

2. OPENING HOURS
The projects must be publicly accessible (shops, galleries, and activity studios), have set hours and be open five days a week (some exceptions apply, depending on location). Office or studio spaces don’t need to be open to the public, however from time to time we would expect you to participate in promotional activities such as open studio showings, or office tours. Again, you need to use the space to its full potential (not just for a few hours a week).

3. READY NOW!
You must be ready to go immediately. There is a very tight turn around to get into these spaces and to maximize the 30-day notice period. That means once we have approved your proposal, you will only have a couple of weeks to prepare the space and open up.

Remember: we want these spaces to directly benefit the creators themselves, and they cannot compete unfairly with existing city businesses between Monarch Park Avenue and Main Street.

THE SPACES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR

• Wholesalers

• Franchises

• Businesses that require extensive additional infrastructure, machinery or appliances beyond what is available i.e. restaurants; major manufacturers/factories

• Business that might disrupt surrounding businesses i.e. clubs; bars

• Businesses that do not have the appropriate licences to distribute the items they are selling, for example, alcohol

We are looking for can-do people who do interesting things and can present them in a professional and beautiful way. You need to be excited by this opportunity and plan to make the absolute most of it.

Deadline for applications is midnight Wednesday May 15, 2013.

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BIG Ideas @ DECA Pop-UP Meeting

We were thrilled to welcome more than 40 enthusiastic people on the blustery evening of March 27th at Artisans at Work:

  • Meet others interested in revitalizing Danforth East
  • Become familiar with the pop-up shop project successes and challenges
  • Learn about pop-up project models around the world
  • Plan the next phase of this project!

The crowd included residents, local business owners, landlords, community organizations, potential pop-up tenants and other supporters of the project. If you missed it, check out the PowerPoint presentation online for photos, to learn more about project successes/challenges and to find out about the models in use around the world.

The Models

Participants discussed three models being used with success around the world to implement pop-up projects and added one more of their own creation. Then everyone voted on the model they felt would be most effective in this neighbourhood. The model that won by an overwhelming majority was the ongoing, incremental increase model:

  • Up to 6 months of month-long rolling leases (or until the space is leased)
  • Tenants pay landlord a fixed amount to cover costs/utilities
  • Each month, tenants increase their rental payments by increments, until they are paying full rent

During the brainstorming, a suggestion was made to base incremental rent increases on a percentage of a tenant’s retail sales. This system provides the possibility of additional growing rent to the landlord and is fair to the tenant (their rent increases as their sales increase). DECA has been experimenting successfully with a similar model and now has direction to finalize the details. Next steps: the Landlord Working Group (see below) can begin asking more landlords to get on board and the new tenant application can be posted on the website by April 30th.

Three Working Groups

Three groups have formed to help make this a success. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting project, please consider signing up to participate in one of the following working groups.

What’s your passion?

  • Recruiting Landlords Working Group – contact Gay
  • Recruiting Tenants Working Group – contact TBA (maybe you?)
  • Planning and Promoting a Big Launch Event – contact Tina

There’s lots to do over the next three months! The landlord group is looking at ways to entice more of the 16-18 landlords with empty storefronts to get on board. The tenant group is working out ways to recruit the best tenants, as well as the application and interview process. The big launch event group is brainstorming ideas, making preparations, selecting a name for the event, considering affordability and potential partners in June. Join in by emailing the group co-ordinator; they’ll fill you in and invite you to the next meeting. Expect working groups to meet about once every two weeks over the next three months.

Wanna be part of a cleaning/painting crew? There will be lots of opportunities to volunteer coming up as we recruit more landlords! Stay tuned.

Interested in a retail pop-up shop opportunity? The new tenant application will be posted to the website by April 30th.