Pop-up shops, which open for weeks or months and close down, are not in the future of downtown Sturgeon Bay.  Though they wouldn't be turned away either. Pop-up stores have served as temporary tenants for vacant retail space in some communities.  Pam Seiler, Executive Director of Destination Sturgeon Bay, says such short-term retailers could benefit communities over the long term.

While the owner of the former Younkers store on Third Avenue has allowed for window displays in the building, Seiler says liability concerns won't allow pop-up stores to set up there. Sturgeon Bay Community Development Director Marty Olejniczak, however, says if owners of any vacant stores want to allow temporary tenants, the city would be just fine with that.

Green Bay's Military Avenue Business Improvement District is now looking to market pop-up shops to fill or reutilize vacant or under-used retail space following some successful trials.

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