Continuous News

Vacant uptown store fronts could be filled by Summer

Posted: Dec 3, 2012 5:02 PM by Katy Harris KXLF News

BUTTE-The uptown area could have fewer vacant store fronts in the coming months.
"It's just one approach of many and we're going to see how well we can make it work in Butte," says Mainstreet Uptown Butte Inc. Executive Director George Everett.
Mainstreet Uptown Butte Incorporated wants to provide local entrepreneurs a business space.
The group is in the beginning stages of a project called Pop UP.
Several communities across the country like Oakland, California and the United Kingdom have followed this project.
"We're hoping that people who might be sitting on the fence will kind of take the plunge and come join us in the Uptown as a viable business," adds Everett.
Local businesses will be asked where they would like to be located.
Then uptown property owners with vacant store fronts will be contacted to see about moving those businesses in.
Mainstreet Uptown Butte would pay the businesses rent for the first 4 months.
Then hopefully by Fall the businesses would have their feet on the ground and take over rent.
Mainstreet Uptown Butte will have businesses selected to fill empty store fronts by May and hopefully have them moved in by July, just in time for the busy festival and tourist season in Butte.
Everett says, "We hope that they will then decide to continue through the holiday season and then by that time they're established and they can continue on in 2014."
Mainstreet Uptown Butte is currently creating applications for businesses that could potentially fill empty store fronts.
There are currently 12 vacant store fronts in the uptown area.