EDWARDS REALTY COMPANY NAMES SEVEN LOCAL BUSINESSES AS FINALISTS TO COMPETE FOR FREE RENT AND RETAIL SPACE AT THE BOULEVARD SHOPPING CENTER

EDWARDS REALTY COMPANY NAMES SEVEN LOCAL BUSINESSES AS FINALISTS TO COMPETE FOR FREE RENT AND RETAIL SPACE AT THE BOULEVARD SHOPPING CENTER

With more than 75 applications from local entrepreneurs, the public can now vote for their favorite Finalist to win the opportunity to rebuild in 2021 and shop the finalists at Showcase Day on March 20

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Pictures from top to bottom: Pop Local Finalists Pure Vibes Skincare and Series Six

ST. LOUIS (March 10, 2020) - Edwards Realty Company, a boutique property management, investment, and development firm and operator of The Boulevard shopping center (Brentwood Blvd. & Galleria Pkwy., Richmond Heights, MO), announces the finalists for the Pop Local program. Seven local small businesses have been selected as finalists, and one winner will receive three months of free rent to test a brick-and-mortar space at The Boulevard this spring. The Pop Local program was created to offer new opportunities for small businesses in the St. Louis community.

With over 75 applications from area entrepreneurs, the selected finalists range from retail boutiques to clean skincare. The finalists include: Brickwood Boutique, Daph., Party Hop Shop, Pure Vibes, Sara Patino Jewelry, Series Six and The Design House. The community is invited to participate in the selection of the Pop Local winner by casting their vote online here. The winning tenant for the storefront space at The Boulevard will be announced on March 31 and their storefront will open in May. Voters receive one entry for their favorite finalist and are encouraged to cast their online ballot before the March 24, 2021 deadline. The public can also shop the Pop Local Finalists businesses at the Pop Local Showcase Day on Saturday, March 20 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the retail storefront at The Boulevard Shopping Center where each business will be set up with social-distancing safety protocols in place.

“We are blown away by the response to Pop Local at The Boulevard. It was an honor to review all of the applications and to see the passion of the St. Louis area local small business community,” says President of Edwards Realty Company Ramzi Hassan. “We truly wish that there were other available spaces, as there were many promising businesses who applied, but we look forward to future opportunities for all of the applicants to showcase their inspiring businesses at The Boulevard.”

The winner will receive three rent-free months in a 1,380 square foot premium storefront located at The Boulevard Shopping Center, which is anchored by Crate & Barrel, Soft Surroundings, and Maggiano’s, among others. Edwards Realty Company will also provide the winner with up to $2,000 to make their vision a reality inside of the shop. The program also provides marketing support to the winner to further encourage foot traffic into the new space for their grand opening in May.

The creative and dynamic small businesses who have been selected as finalists for Pop Local at The Boulevard are:

  • Brickwood Boutique: Brickwood is a clothing and accessory boutique for women with trendy styles at affordable prices to ensure that women of all walks of life have access to the confidence they deserve.
    • About the owner: Christen Edmonds is a former Missouri University graduate. She is proud to be a female-owned business and loves to offer women the opportunity for retail experience in her storefronts.
  • Daph.: A St. Louis-based fashion and lifestyle brand for women that features handmade clothing, handbags and accessories inspired by the unique artistry, craftmanship and materials of Peru. Daph giveback initiatives are currently concentrated in the Amazon jungle, at a school for children with lesser-known illnesses and special needs.
    • About the Owner: Designed by Peru native and St. Louisan Daphne Benzaquen, our handbags and clothing are created to be timeless and standout pieces, providing high-quality elegance and versatility at an approachable price point.
  • Party Hop Shop: We are a party company founded by two STL moms. We sell party decorations and create custom balloon installations. Top selling items include DIY Balloon Garland Kits, seasonal holiday party kits, paper goods, candles, printables and party boxes.
    • About Ashley Roberts and Ashley Detweiler: After throwing five first birthday parties between the two of us and spending too much money and too much time on Pinterest, we wanted to bring a one stop party shop experience to other moms and party planners out there like ourselves.
  • Pure Vibes: Pure Vibes is a worker-owned cooperative that creates essential wellness products, including handmade artisan soaps and aromatherapy goods that elevate our customers and our community by building equity and ownership that sustains the people, community, and planet.
    • About the Owners: Tiffany Snow Wesley created Pure Vibes in 2013. During the 2020 pandemic, Pure Vibes was transitioned into a worker-owned cooperative. A cooperative company is owned by the workers and/or members unified to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs.

  • Sara Patino Jewelry: Sara Patino Jewelry is crafted in St. Louis, MO, by women, with care and kindness towards our environment. Each piece is made by hand using recycled gold and ethical gemstones. It's for women that seek modern sustainable jewelry with a purpose.
    • About the Owner: Inspired by her Columbian heritage, Sara Patino travels to South America to take in the language, culture and ultra-green farm country of central Columbia. Her appreciation for Columbian handmade accessories, nature and love of travel spans back to childhood and is represented in her sustainable and ethical jewelry today. 
  • Series Six: Series Six is a woman-owned St. Louis inspired apparel company focused on creating merchandise for everyone who loves STL.
    1. About the Owner: What first started as a college passion project for Owner Sami Mauer, Series Six has grown into a beloved local business known for supporting the community through charity of the month and local restaurant giveback shirts.

  • The Design House, Curated: The Design House, Curated is a place to purchase quality goods for everyday living and experience the joy of interior design. We help you envision a home full of aliveness and explore the brilliance of purposeful gathering.
    • About Lisa Knight: Lisa and her partner are St. Louis residents with a love of architecture, good design and great lines.

The initial judging criteria included a combination of several factors, such as: merit and quality of the application; how the business fits into the current merchandise mix at The Boulevard; and the potential for the winning business to stay on as a part of The Boulevard community after the initial three months. “While the last criteria is not a requirement, it is our hope that the winner will thrive at The Boulevard and become an integral part of our tenant mix,” continues Hassan.

“Our finalists also represent a diverse group of small business owners as well as unique business concepts. From multicultural backgrounds and women-owned businesses, we’re excited to welcome one of these concepts to our retail community,” Hassan says.

Finalist judging will be based on similar criteria to the initial review, along with public online voting and personal interviews with the Edwards Realty team. Following the personal interviews, Pop Local Guest Judges will be asked to provide their thoughts to help determine the best fit for the Pop Local storefront winner. Guest Judge partners include: Gilberto Pinela, communications manager at Cortex Innovation Community; Erin Joy, founder of Black Dress Circle; Leslie Gill, president of Rung for Women; Brian Hall, chief marketing officer at Explore St. Louis; Whitney Cole, owner of Paint Nail Bar at The Boulevard.

The Pop Local winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 31, and the new Boulevard tenant will open their storefront business in May. For more information on Pop Local at The Boulevard, visit here.

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About Edwards Realty Company

Edwards Realty Company is a leading real estate investment, development and management firm with three decades of experience investing in communities. Over the past 30 years, Edwards Realty Company has developed a diverse portfolio of mixed-use properties across the Midwest. Their open-air centers are “Centers of Attention” in their respective neighborhoods and represent an innovative convergence of community, compassion, commitment and commerce as evidenced by the tenant mix and vibrant events and activities such as Pop Local. Edwards Realty Company invests, develops and manages its properties strategically to ensure they become part of the fabric of the communities in which they are located.To learn more about Edwards Realty Company, visit their website at www. Edwardsrealtyco.com or find them on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About The Boulevard

Following the success of The Boulevard, Edwards Realty Company is leasing for a Phase II development. The expansion project brings up to 115,000 square-feet of Class A office space, 60,000 square-feet of retail/entertainment/restaurant space, 200 additional luxury and corporate apartments, and 1,600 parking spaces in a covered and secured garage. Edwards Realty Company collaborates with the area’s top architects to design and build creative community environments that suit workspace and leisure needs. For more information on The Boulevard Phase II, visit www.blvd2.com.