pop up shops Archives

You may have noticed a post here on I<3PGH a few weeks ago about the East End Book Exchange. Book lover and occasional I<3PGH blogger Lesley Rains is exploring the idea of setting up a used book store here in Pittsburgh.

This is hopefully good news for Pittsburgh. Not so long ago, there were many a book shop to be found in the east end…

Sq. Hill Bookshop (which is now Massage Envy on Forbes)
Atlantic Booksellers (also on Forbes ave – but I am not sure what is there now)
Pinocchio Books (a kids book store that was located in the basement of Shadyside Village on Aiken)
Jay’s Book Stall (was located on Forbes in Oakland)
Three Penny Books (was located at 1827 Murray Ave)

These little guys were replaced by bigger guys and we said hello to Barnes and Noble and most recently Borders in East Liberty.

The end of a book shop on Highland Ave

Maybe things are coming full circle and back to the little guys. One of the things I have noticed over the past few years in Shadyside is that Walnut Street – which had become lined with national chains has seen some more independent shops return. While Max and Erma’s closed – locally owned Elbow Room has moved to Walnut Street and expanded with a new restaurant in their old Ellsworth location.

And things are going well for the Big Idea Bookshop, which is moving to a bigger space in Bloomfield. Thanks to Karen the Small Press Librarian for the heads up. Check out Karen’s blog for more info about book shops.

Pop Up Shops

So maybe that means that Pittsburgh is ready for another independent bookshop. One way to test the waters is with a “pop up shop.” Pop up shops are popping up everywhere for every product imaginable. Here is a post from The Thread Austin about a pop up popsicle shop. John Morris just posted an interesting article about cities and pop up urbanism over on the blog DiggingPitt. Looking for more info on pop up shops – check out this post from Inc Magazine “How to Open a Pop-Up Store“.

The East End Book Exchange will test the Pittsburgh waters with their first pop-up shop at the Pittsburgh Public Market this Sunday.

East End Book Exchange debuts at the Pittsburgh Public Market
Sunday, July 31, 2011
10am-4pm
Facebook Event – http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=238837232805862

Lend some support by stopping by to say hello and to browse some books at their table at the Pittsburgh Public Market.

Can’t make it to the market? Visit their blog and follow East End Book Exchange on Facebook.

The folks at the ImadeIt Market may have had their valentine’s day show at the Union Project canceled due to the snowmageddon that took over Pittsburgh back in February but they are back with an awesome way to chase away the winter chills – Chili Contest!

Here is the deal – Joseph Beth Books has moved out of their space on Carson Street – to a smaller space across the street -so on Saturday, April 10 – the I Made It market will take over the old Joseph Beth Space and turn it into a Chili spectacular and handmade market.

I Made It! Market, Pittsburgh’s nomadic indie crafts marketplace, joins with the SouthSide Works for a Spring Arts & Chili Festival on April 10 from 2 – 8 pm.

More than 50 regional crafters will join together to create a pop-up marketplace inside the former Joseph Beth Bookseller space, on the corner of 27th and Carson Streets, which will also include a Kids Korner. Outside will be live entertainment and a chili festival complete with a celebrity judged chili competition.

Chili with the Works on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=349630274842

Popping into Vacant Spaces

These pop-up markets are litterally popping up all over the place and it is a great way to reuse vacant spaces and bring communities together at the same time – who knows maybe bringing new faces to vacant spaces will inspire some new tenants too.

Pop Up Pittsburgh was an event organized last year to highlight things happening in uptown, this year they will be popping up in another neighborhood – the Pittsburgh event was inspired by an event in Cleveland – another great idea shared through GLUE – Great Lakes Urban Exchange.
In January, Chris Brogan, one of my favorite writers on social media, linked to a post about Gap pop up shops
Here is another post and there are many others about pop up galleries in vacant spaces
Art Dimensions Pittsburgh (Art Dimensions Pittsburgh on Facebook) – is an artist space that has taken over the old PNC Bank building on the corner of Penn and Highland in East Liberty. The idea was brought to Pittsburgh by Dan Friedson who was involved with Art Dimensions in St. Louis.