Great Locations in Downtown Medford Are Attracting New Businesses
Since January, Downtown Medford Association Storefront Activation Program has been hosting monthly Reimagine Downtown Medford Tours – guided walking tours in downtown.
On these tours you can connect to property owners, entrepreneurs, creatives, and community partners as you experience available downtown spaces and imagine possibilities for businesses.
Are you dreaming about opening a business, looking to activate a vacant space or are curious about what’s happening downtown? These tours are for you.
On the tour, you get a behind-the-scenes look at 3–5 available properties and meet the people involved in shaping our downtown’s future.
The tours are hosted by Annie Jenkins, Executive Director of DMA, and Marta Tarantsey of Business Oregon.
Participants on the April 9 tour visited:
26 S Central – Kahlo and former Palace Hotel
117 S Central – former Montgomery Wards and RCC building
335 E Main – formerly Hubbard Brothers Hardware and currently House to Home Gallery
Thank you to Champagne Cafe for starting the tour off and hosting a reception following the tour.
The Reimagine Tours are aligned with DMA’s Storefront Activation Program.
Downtown Medford Association’s Storefront Activation Program (SAP) is a low-cost, high impact initiative that has recently gotten underway to pair entrepreneurs and small local businesses with downtown property owners and is decreasing the vacancy rate in downtown.
The Storefront Activation Program will:
- Activate 3-5 vacant storefronts located in the DMA designated area
- Provide Medford entrepreneurs and small businesses with an opportunity to open a storefront shop downtown
- Help property owners of vacant commercial buildings market vacant spaces to help prospective tenants
The SAP supports DMA’s efforts to revitalize Medford’s downtown corridor by strengthening current businesses, activating street-level storefronts, and improving the overall appearance of the corridor by adding a visual richness to the walkway. The program also aims to increase walkability of streets for pedestrians, attract more customers to existing businesses, market available commercial properties, and promote Medford to prospective businesses.
The City of Medford has allocated $25,000 to Downtown Medford Association from the Council Community Initiative Fund (CCIF) for this project.
DMA is pleased to announce that three grants under the Storefront Activation Program have been awarded thus far:
- Sean Rimes and Paradise Footwear – which opened March 3 in the former Norris Shoes location at 221 East Main Street
- Thomas Quinn and Rogue Valley Lighting at 24 North Bartlett Street
- Grace and Dwain Nelson and Petite Grace Croissant Café – planning to open in June at 36 S Central
To learn more about the DMA Storefront Activation Program and future Reimagine Tours, contact Annie Jenkins at [email protected]