(Long Island, NY) The Queens Economic Development Corporation is looking for vendors to participate in a boutique pop-up shop and tourism center that the agency will open in Long Island City in June 2016.
Dubbed “MiQ” as an abbreviation of “MadeinQueens,” the new retail store will offer local and small batch artisan products, handmade crafts, designer goods, house wares, and packaged food items. The shop, located at 27-24 Queens Plaza South, will also provide information on tourism, entertainment, and restaurant options in the borough. It will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am until 8 pm.
QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein. Photo Credit: QEDC.
MiQ will host a rotating selection of items as per a monthly curatorial theme, and merchants will get 30-square-foot display areas. Online sales are planned in the near future. (The website www.madeinqueens.nyc is active right now.)
Long Island City resident Michael Darouiche, a native of Lebanon who makes customized, handmade jewelry through his company De Dandy, has already agreed to participate. Other expected vendors will include an artisan leather crafter, a t-shirt designer, and various food and beverage makers from the Entrepreneur Space, a commercial kitchen that QEDC operates in Long Island City.
“In our constant efforts to generate economic development, we have noticed that many entrepreneurs simply need a place to sell their products,” said QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein. “MiQ solves this problem, and since it’s located in a booming neighborhood, we hope to get a constant stream of foot traffic.”
Rent is $600 for two weeks or $1,000 for four weeks. For now, only New York State-based companies can participate and Queens manufacturers get priority consideration. For more information, try www.madeinqueens.nyc or contact QEDC Director of Business Services Sante Antonelli at 718.263.0546 or info@madeinqueens.nyc.
MiQ is a project of the Queens Economic Development Corporation with funding from Capital One Bank, support from Gotham Realty, and assistance from MILES.CITY.
