Batavia Boardwalk Shops help businesses grow, bring shoppers to downtown

Weekends in Batavia have taken on a whole new cache over the past three summer/fall seasons, thanks to Batavia Main Street's clever new Boardwalk Shops, for which the Gerald Auto Group is the presenting sponsor.

Modeled after a similar initiative in Muskegon, Michigan, the recently constructed frame 12-by-12-foot air-conditioned incubator retail shops at Route 25 and Wilson Street (formerly a little-used parking lot) are a city initiative meant to give emerging retail businesses a boost from the home-based business stage to the brick-and-mortar enterprise stage.

“Batavia needed more retail shops in its downtown area and the city felt that incubator shops like these were a great way to encourage new businesses to make the step into a permanent space and to draw people to downtown Batavia. They are also perfectly located close to the Saturday morning weekly Farmer's Market,” explained Beth Walker, executive director of Batavia Main Street.

Eight shops were constructed by volunteers, including local high school trades class students, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and a year later, two more were added. Funding came from a city economic vitality grant and fundraising by Main Street.

Applications for the spaces are taken each year from Dec. 1 through Jan. 31 and reviewed by a 15-person jury which decides who will be granted the spaces for the coming year. After the winners are chosen, the tenants meet with each other and business instructors once each month to learn the intricacies of marketing and much more.

This year's tenants are Arlo Hendrix Baby Outfitters, Charcuterie Studio, Dirty Clay & Co. (pottery), Earth Knots (macramé), Fox Valley Gallery of Wood, Hazelry (women's clothing and jewelry), Magnolia Soap & Bath Co., The Candy Stop, Wild West Baked Goods and Wonder and Wander (toy store). They will do business from the Boardwalk Shops through Dec. 18.

“The Boardwalk Shops provided us with a great opportunity to gain community support and awareness for our store, Light & Pine Collective,” recalled Suzanne Ray, co-owner of one of the inaugural Boardwalk Shops. “Our time at the Boardwalk Shops allowed us to grow our business and move into our permanent location at Batavia's Wilson Street Mercantile.”

“The Gerald Auto Group is honored to be able to help support this amazing opportunity for local entrepreneurs. Batavia Mainstreet's focus on enabling small businesses to flourish is such a special gem in our local community,” said Donna Lawler, Vice President of the Gerald Auto Group. “We look forward to celebrating the successes of this year showcased Boardwalk Shop businesses.”