Melrose Welcomes “Project: Pop-Up” Entrepreneurs to Main Street for the Holidays
By Patrick DeVivo
Photo Credit: Patrick DeVivo
Melrose residents can be forgiven for their curiosity about the big blue box outside the YMCA on Main Street. The box, which is the size of a large garden shed, is part of a holiday season endeavor called Project: Pop-Up. The project is a collaborative effort of the city, the Melrose YMCA, and an organization called Up Next, which promotes local innovation and entrepreneurship.
Project: Pop-Up is the latest of several recent projects in Melrose generated by the city’s relationship with Up Next. In fact, Melrose has been one of the most active cities or towns in the Boston area to partner with Up Next.
The Pop-Up box on the YMCA property has the amenities to replicate a brick-and-mortar storefront. For the current project, nine small local businesses were offered the opportunity to temporarily utilize the box as though it were an actual storefront. Each business occupies the box for a week at a time through the holiday season. In doing so, the business receives increased exposure for its brand and acquires experience working as a brick-and-mortar retailer. In exchange, each business makes a donation to the Melrose YMCA.
Below is the remaining schedule of businesses participating in Project Pop Up Melrose. Pop-ups will be open Thursday-Sunday each week, at a minimum. For the most up-to-date hours and special events, please visit the featured brand's social media accounts.
- December 2-8: Jill Paz Illustration and Meesh Pottery
- December 9 -15:Read My Lips Boston, a bookshop for authors and main characters with typically underrepresented identities in the romance genre
- December 16-22: Housse Studio textiles, home decor, accessories, and art pieces.
Businesses that have participated in the project to date include:
- Slant Rhyme Studios: A gift shop and art gallery specializing in offbeat handmade items
- Daphne Rae Creative: A local artist capturing her life experiences onto paper with gouache paint
- Wella Woods: A company that combines passion, craftsmanship, and commitment to providing clean products for the individual and home
- Safo Hair: A natural plant-based haircare line focused on scalp health and healthy hair growth
- Grace + Bo: A boutique dedicated to children’s attire
Further information about Project: Pop-Up can be found here.
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