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w w w .insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, A ugust 4 , 2 0 1 7 | 2 Pop-up stores not right for downtown, believes business owner continued from p. 1 in the realm of fashion, electronics, and cui sine. Bentall Kennedy is currently working with retail space connector `pop-up go' to select pop-up businesses appropriate for Oakville' s downtown. Imbesi said there has been considerable interest from pop-up businesses regarding this project and he hopes to have all eight locations occupied before the end of the summer. Pop-ups that do take up Bentall Kenne dy' s offer would be required to stay at their Downtown Oakville location for no less than three days and no more than three months. [ Imbesi said the idea is that pop-ups that leave will be replaced by other pop-ups while pop-ups that want to stay after their three-month period can examine more long term tenancy options with Bentall Kennedy. "The idea is to create buzz and excite ment," he said. "We want to create an at mosphere and a sense that there is great op portunity in Downtown Oakville. A message that you need to get down here and experi ences these amazing stores while you can or you might miss them." Downtown Oakville Executive Director Susan Johnston said she was pleased by the impending arrival of pop-ups. "I would say anything that brings traffic and business to Downtown Oakville is good. I think the pop-up stores might bring some interesting business concepts to downtown that might be of interest to people," she said. "I also think it is good for new businesses. That they are able to try a business opportu nity to see if it is viable before committing to something like a year long lease." Not everyone is thrilled with the prospect of pop-up stores in the downtown. the regular customers," said Vesters. She is calling on the municipal govern ment to start paying attention to what is hap pening downtown and look into why Bentall Kennedy is choosing the pop-up store route as opposed to just renting their spaces with permanent tenants. Ward 3 Town Councillor Nicholas Hutchins says pop-up stores are better than vacant storefronts. "The more vacancies you have the less people go down there," he said. "I don't know if pop-up stores will help, I'm not an expert, but it is worth trying." Hutchins acknowledged that existing busi nesses pay higher rents than pop-ups and that this could be a problem if the pop-ups sell the same products. That said, he noted the nature of pop-up stores means it is un likely this will be the case. Ward 3 Town and Regional Councillor Dave Gittings expressed similar sentiments. "While I am not aware of the specific plans or designs of potential temporary stores that will be locating downtown, I am looking for ward to having fewer empty retail spaces and more shoppers," he said in an email. Gittings noted existing stores would have additional potential customers walking by their front doors while the temporary loca tions would be able to promote their brand, raise awareness and test operating in the downtown. Concerns raised about pop-up stores Carol Vesters, owner of Swiss Interiors, which is located in the downtown core, voiced concerns about the pop-ups poten tially being a source of unfair competition for existing businesses in Downtown Oakville. "This is not positive," she said she believes. "These temporary stores will have some product which competes with the products carried by a legitimate tenant of Downtown Oakville who is trying to remain there in the long run and support the downtown com munity" Vesters said she believes the "fly-by-night" pop-up stores are not right for the image of the downtown, which she says is customer service- and community-oriented. She also doubts these stores will do much to attract customers to the area. "I don't think people who would be inter ested in pop-up stores will be any happier with the parking situation down here than B eaver www.insideHALTON.com O pinion S ports 6 18 A rts C l a s s ifie d 16 21 For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online at www.oakvillebeaver.com Flyers: Alexanian Carpet, Real Estate *A ll flyers not necessarily delivered to all homes Hillfield Strathallan College Learn with Joy. Live with Purpose. 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