From Pizza Boli’s to pop-up shop: Remington is holding a business plan competition for new retail

Remington is putting out the call to entrepreneurs for big pop-up ideas that can fit in one of the neighborhood’s storefront.
This week, applications opened for The Remington Storefront Challenge. Backed by the Greater Remington Improvement Association Johns Hopkins University and Seawall Development, the business plan competition is seeking new retail concepts for two spaces near R. House.
Two winners will get the spaces rent-free for 12-24 months, funding to set up shop and technical assistance.
Apply by January 8, 2019
The storefronts are:

• 300 W. 29th St. Located at W. 29th St. and Remington Ave., the space is currently home to a Pizza Boli’s franchise that is relocating this fall. Interior and exterior renovations are planned for the 1,240 sq. ft. building, which was originally constructed as a gas station. (Johns Hopkins recently opened a student innovation hub next door).
• 2700 Remington Ave., Suite 1100. This is a corner bay in the Remington Row development, with 900 sq. ft. of space and floor to ceiling windows.

While neighborhood groups like GRIA often meet with new business owners before they open, the competition is taking community input a step further. The ten finalists will pitch to a panel made up of Remington residents and business owners, giving them a direct say in choosing the winners.
“We are looking to increase the diversity of business owners and retail options in the neighborhood,” said GRIA member K.C. Kelleher. “We want to find the two concepts that best support the values and needs of our community.”
Partners also include Central Baltimore Partnership, Howard Bank, and Younts Design. Some considerations include how a concept will increase foot traffic, and interact with the other businesses in the area.
This video from Shine Creative has more: