Vacant Storefront Resources

Apr 30

Vacant storefronts across Portland’s commercial districts can be seen as blank canvases ready for creative, community-driven solutions. From neighborhood corridors to downtown streets, Business Districts & Associations, and partner organizations are well positioned to transform these underused spaces into vibrant, people-centered destinations.

Empty storefronts can lead to a decrease in foot traffic, perceived safety, and neighboring business revenue — often called the "broken window" effect on commercial corridors. Even temporary activations can help in many ways:

Keeps a space maintained, lit, and monitored, helping reduce vandalism and break-ins
Signals momentum to other tenants, investors, and shoppers
Lets landlords test tenant fit before signing a long lease
Builds goodwill with the local community and government
Can qualify for grants, tax incentives, or reduced insurance costs in some cities

This resource page offers a set of practical ideas for activating empty storefronts in Portland.

Temporary Window Activations in Commercial Corridors

Vacant storefront windows can be quickly transformed with art, window graphics, decals, or creative messaging that adds energy to Portland’s streetscapes. These activations can also feature merchandise displays from local businesses, directing customers to nearby shops and supporting small business visibility. Previous iterations include Portland Made’s Window Shops and the Winter Light Festival.

Survey your district, talk to building owners, and identify vacant storefronts/spaces suitable for window activation.
Define an area or corridor where there are clusters or a concentration of vacant spaces and regular foot and transit traffic.
Coordinate with property owners or managers to establish short-term agreements for window use. The agreements should outline the terms of the short-term use and include aspects like the length of term, utilities and repair responsibilities, details on how the window can be used, and a clear understanding of what kind of installation or art is allowed.

Once access is secured, collaborate with local artists, designers, or vendors to develop installations. Portland’s strong creative community—including independent artists and students from Pacific Northwest College of Art—can be a valuable resource. Local print shops can design and install window clings, or artists can paint directly on glass. Businesses may also use windows for curated displays.

💡Helpful Tip: Choose imagery that reflects the types of businesses you want to attract or represents the brand and positioning of your area to bring more awareness to the opportunities available. Always install materials on the interior side of the glass to protect against rain and vandalism.

Marketing & Activation of Vacant Spaces in Business Districts:

Create clear, compelling marketing materials that showcase a unique district and neighborhood-level opportunities. These should include:

Demographic insights and neighborhood trends (e.g., local spending patterns, residential growth)
Information on incentives, grants, or technical assistance programs available through organizations like Prosper Portland
Testimonials from existing business owners, press coverage, and—if available—performance metrics

Develop a quarterly retail availability report that highlights open storefronts, including:

Address, square footage, and basic infrastructure details
Broker and property owner contact information

Distribute the report widely:

Share via email with business networks and commercial brokers
Publish on a dedicated page on your district website and post on social media when applicable
Maintain a separate, regularly updated real estate contact list

Host periodic open-house events to showcase available spaces:

Collaborate with brokers and property owners and schedule events during weekday business hours for realistic foot traffic exposure
Organize group tours to build momentum and encourage interest
Invite lenders, small business advisors, and service providers to support prospective tenants
Collect contact information to grow your network for future outreach

Activate Interior Vacant Spaces with Pop-Ups:

Interior pop-ups offer Portland-based artists, makers, and entrepreneurs the opportunity to test ideas, sell products, and build visibility. These activations can also support cooperative retail models or shared marketplaces. They also help property owners market the space and program like the Time-Based Art Festival have created pathways to long-term leases through shared marketing efforts.

Identify property owners willing to offer short-term, flexible use agreements.
Focus on spaces that require minimal upgrades.

Support activations with strong visibility and engagement strategies:

Use signage, wayfinding, and street-level branding
Create a hashtag or campaign to build awareness
Incorporate live events such as music, art demos, or maker showcases to draw foot traffic

💡Helpful Tip: Vacant spaces with basic finishes work best, allowing tenants to activate quickly without major upfront costs. Determine whether your organization can offer incentives such as rent support, minor improvements, marketing, or signage.

💡Helpful Tip: Pop-up rent structures often use a percentage-of-sales model. Around 10% is typical for retail, while food-based concepts may vary depending on permitting and infrastructure readiness.

Partner with local organizations such as neighborhood business associations, Regional Arts & Culture Council, arts groups, nonprofits that support entrepreneurs, and chambers of commerce to shape the program and help with outreach to potential tenants.
Promote opportunities through social media, newsletters, local press, and community networks.

Common Pitfalls

Strengthen cash flow and improve profitability:

Treating a license like a full commercial lease: over-negotiating creates delay and cost disproportionate to a short-term use
Skipping insurance verification: this is the single most common cause of activation deals falling through
No clear exit plan: always define what happens if the space leases permanently mid-activation
Ignoring neighbors: a great pop-up with noise complaints undermines the whole program
Underestimating buildout time: even "light" activations typically need 4–6 weeks lead time for permits and setup

💡Helpful Tip: Develop clear agreements outlining expectations, rates, and responsibilities. Work closely with city agencies to ensure compliance, especially for uses like food service, which are more heavily regulated.

Potential Phases to Launch a Pop-Up Program

Phase 1

Determine if the program makes sense for the area or business district. This includes working with local partners willing to collaborate on the program and, most importantly, who have the capacity to do so. These partners can also help shape the strategy that aligns available properties with pop-up potential, identifying what types of businesses are a good fit, and working with property owners on the plan.

Phase 2

After initial planning and once the properties have been selected and the property owners are on board, the process shifts to determining which spaces are move-in ready and which will need additional tenant improvements. Participating property owners and community partners can then establish how the program can not only launch but be sustained to maintain positive momentum for the business districts. Program details can include how many businesses a district wants to participate, lease and timeline agreements, how each pop-up will launch, and an outline of ongoing marketing strategies to elevate all businesses in the area.

Phase 3

Marketing the available spaces should be done by leveraging both public and private resources. It’s recommended to have an application process that allows property owners and program organizers to focus on businesses with the highest potential for pop-up and long-term success. The program team can then conduct interviews with the top candidates and match them to the spaces that best fit their needs. Once tenants are in the spaces, hosting a welcome event and issuing a press release will help generate additional awareness of the program, new businesses, and established ones in the area.

Phase 4

This is the ongoing operational step for the program. Pop-up spaces are filled, and the new business owners can tap into city and partner resources like technical assistance to help them fine tune their business model. In addition to ongoing assessments of the businesses, the program itself should be evaluated as well.

2026 Pop Up Guide from Shopify

Are Pop-Ups Good for Landlords

Lease & License Considerations

For temporary activations, a license agreement may be more flexible than a traditional lease. Agreements should clearly define:

Length of occupancy (e.g., fixed-term programs or rolling agreements with notice periods)
Responsibility for utilities and waste services
Guidelines for modifications and required approvals
Hours of operation and minimum activity expectations
Maintenance and repair responsibilities
Liability and insurance requirements
Conditions for termination, including prohibited uses
Penalties for non-compliance
Requirements for appropriate licensing if the pop-up involves food or alcohol.

Clear agreements help ensure smooth implementation while protecting both property owners and tenants. With thoughtful planning and strong partnerships, Portland’s vacant storefronts can become active contributors to neighborhood vitality.

How to Monetize Vacant Spaces – Landlord’s Guide