Business boosters trying to reinvigorate the 16th Street Mall continue to help entrepreneurs make a go of it in the city's struggling Downtown, where pandemic-era office vacancies have led to decreased foot traffic and put existing shops and restaurants in a bind.
Two new businesses will open shop on the 16th Street Mall as part of the Downtown Denver Partnership and Denver Economic Development and Opportunity's Popup Denver small business incubator program: Ana's Norwegian Bakeri at 918 16th St. and streetwear shop Abstract Denver at 303 16th St.
Ana's already has a bakery in Centennial, and Abstrct has a shop in the Santa Fe Art District.
The businesses will pay no base rent for six months and receive $30,000 in tenant supports, including help with digital marketing and "safety mitigation funding."
Another nearly 30 entrepreneurs will also receive technical assistance for building their businesses downtown. That will include a half-year business development workshop hosted by Wells Fargo and a spot in a Downtown retail collective.
The project was piloted in 2022 and gave businesses a chance to test out whether opening Downtown makes sense for them in the long term. The first round of businesses included Tea with Tae, the Museum for Black Girls, Travel Posters, Gallery 16 and Image en Mouvement.
"The Partnership is so excited to continue this program and its pipeline of retail startups for the core of our city," said Kourtny Garrett head of the Partnership, in a statement. "Popup Denver businesses provide vibrancy and help diversify 16th Street as an iconic retail destination in Denver. At the Partnership, we are committed to supporting our entrepreneurial community and expanding Downtown as a hub for all types of businesses."
