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Space to Place: Launching this October in Downtown Evanston!
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Space to Place Opening Weekend, October 3 & 4, 2026 • 11am–6pm
Shop independent businesses obsessed with quality, design, and connection: coffee, home objects, furniture, vintage clothing for all ages, art, jewelry, paper goods, provisions, and more. Coffee, pastries, and food by Dandelion Coffee Bar, drinks by Five & Dime Evanston, plus Storytime Dads, music, and a few surprise activations throughout the weekend.
A big thank you to our opening weekend sponsor, Downtown Evanston!
What is it?
A City-supported shared marketplace in Downtown Evanston, running October through December 2026.
Who's it for?
Evanston-based small businesses focused on retail goods or food & beverage — with priority access for woman-, minority-, LGBTQ+-, and veteran-owned businesses.
What's included?
3,000 SF of shared space with an individual ~100 SF display footprint, business training, a shared point-of-sale (POS) system, City marketing support, an expert roster, and a peer community.
What's the cost?
- 10% of gross monthly sales (paid at month-end)
- $175/month participation fee
- Financial assistance available for income-qualifying participants through the City's CDBG program
What's the commitment?
- Shift coverage (minimum 5 four-hour shifts across the program)
- Incubator curriculum participation (minimum 3 sessions)
- Business registration and required licensing before October 1
- SKUs uploaded to central POS by September 18
- One hosted or co-hosted event per month.
You Might Be a Good Fit If...
- You're an Evanston-based small business selling retail goods or food & beverage items
- You're currently operating — online, at markets, from a home studio, or in shared space — and ready to test in a physical storefront
- You've been in business at least 6 months as of October 1, 2026
- You can commit to the full October–December 2026 period, including shift and incubator curriculum requirements
- You're a team player, ready to contribute to shared marketplace management and culture
- You're seeking your first brick-and-mortar space in Evanston in the next 1-2 years
Our Equity Commitment
Space to Place includes a defined priority weighting for entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities, defined for this program as woman-, minority-, LGBTQ+-, or veteran-owned businesses. Businesses at the intersection of multiple underrepresented identities (e.g., a Black woman-owned business, or a Latina LGBTQ+-owned business) receive additional consideration in the selection process.
Financial Assistance
- City of Evanston CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding is available to support income-qualifying participants: federal funding specifically directed toward lower-income individuals and historically underrepresented entrepreneurs
- Income eligibility criteria and required documentation will be provided to applicants who indicate a need
Questions?
Contact the Space to Place team at spacetoplace.evanston@gmail.
Claire Seizovic, Retail Activation Strategist
Katie Boden, City of Evanston Economic Development Coordinator
10% of gross monthly sales plus a $175/month participation fee. Financial assistance is available through the City's CDBG program for qualifying participants.
No. Participants cover a minimum number of shifts per week, with a paid retail employee providing coverage on peak days.
Yes: packaged, commercially licensed food and beverage products are eligible. Hot-food preparation on-site is not allowed at the selected property.
Yes — there's an application for everyone. Survey respondents received early access.
October 1, 2026. All product SKUs must be uploaded by September 18. Buildout and onboarding happen in September.
Yes — woman-, minority-, LGBTQ+-, and veteran-owned businesses are all included in Space to Place's equity priority definition.
A panel of City staff, the program consultant, and community partners with small business expertise reviews applications. Application information is kept confidential within the review panel.