Saturday, January 5th, 2008
Two new words in Ybor: Retail Incubation
Some people call the Ybor of today the "experiment that failed". When the City wet-zoned a large portion of the district it hoped to boost development and investment in the area. Instead, it created an unsustainable economy that has resulted in empty storefronts and languishing retail. There are new efforts to rectify old mistakes. Retail incubation is, as its name implies, a way to give promising entrepreneurs the means to succeed until they are able to fend on their own ("hatch"). It would be the first effort of its kind in the Tampa Bay area but other incubators have already proven successful in other parts of the country. Here is the article from the Tribune that explains in more detail:
By JANIS D. FROELICH, The Tampa Tribune
Published: December 26, 2007
YBOR CITY - It’s not that this historic district doesn’t have plenty of shops, agree members of the retail development committee for the Ybor City Development Corp.
It’s just that shoppers don’t equate a trip to Ybor City with hauling home loads of packages.
"Retail should be a cornerstone here," said committee chairman Joe Howden, who lives in Ybor City and works part time at King Corona Cigars on Seventh Avenue.
The way to boost retail is to nurture retail, the committee decided. So the concept of an incubator business is being discussed.
That could mean the development corporation would buy or lease a warehouse or storefront space and fill it with small, start-up businesses. The entrepreneurs would pay rent, but rates would be affordable because the space would be shared, as would services such as a receptionist and fax machine.
Other cities have found success with this idea. According to the National Business Incubator Association, there are more than 900 incubators in North America, including Hi-Crest Mini Mall in Topeka, Kan., and the Dallas Fashion Incubator in Texas.
Sharon Rose, owner of Mermaid’s Slipper, 1903 N. 19th St., told the committee of about 25 that she used to live in Baltimore, which housed 12 businesses in a warehouse.
"It worked with a real sense of pride in what everyone together was doing," she said at the group’s December meeting.
Tony LaColla, president of the Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association, said the goal is to increase nonchain merchants and offices. Within two to three years, those tenants would move out of the incubator location to other storefronts.
"You don’t have to have a master’s in business to get a business started this way," LaColla said. "This isn’t going to hurt your business. And this would be different from mall shopping."
LaColla said the public would find Ybor City "a cool, creative community." The business incubator possibly could be housed in structures such as the former Platforms nightclub, 1625 E. Seventh Ave., the former home of Metropolitan Deluxe in Centro Ybor or the former Badcock Furniture, 1315 E. Seventh Ave.
LaColla said deals could be struck with property owners because "this would be better than an empty storefront."
Christina Flannery, who works at Revolve Clothing Exchange, 1620 E. Seventh Ave., said, "Absolutely this idea would help. Nothing’s worse than empty buildings. We just don’t have the foot traffic we need here."
Marcie Hoffman Porges, owner of Hoffman Porges Gallery, 1907 E. Seventh Ave., said she likes the idea of multiplying small businesses.
"Small space is very European," she said. "Owning your own business is a dream for lots of people."
Hoffman Porges said an open-air atmosphere and street access could be factors in making the small businesses a success.
Howden said it’s now a matter of spreading the word about the incubator business idea so the retail committee can discuss how to develop and manage the concept when it meets Jan. 9.
"We need to keep the momentum going," he said. "This seems tailor-made for our area."
Michael Dunn, owner of Stogie Castillo’s Cigar Lounge and Factory in Centro Ybor, said the committee is moving in the right direction.
"We need new businesses to begin to change things," he said. "Right now, there’s not the draw there should be."
Rose said the shaky economy means the timing is right for an incubator business.
"People are waiting for this - an opportunity to be self-employed," she said.
For information on the retail development committee, call Brenda Thrower at the development corporation at (813) 274-7917.
Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.
