Box Bazaar: Manor Road
Bringing Citywide Goals to Life
Over the last year, construction started and tenants were selected for a one-on-a-kind neighborhood installation on city-owned land in East Austin that will provide business incubator space for small, local businesses. These innovative spaces will be housed in retrofitted shipping containers and help to create a complete community while ensuring equitable economic development opportunities are available to Austin entrepreneurs. This pilot project is called the Box Bazaar and aims to put citywide goals on the ground during its yearlong demonstration period.
In late 2018, a selection committee made up of City staff and East Austin community leaders sifted through applications and later listened to business pitches from local entrepreneurs all vying for a chance to lease a space at the Box Bazaar. Though the panel heard many strong ideas, six entrepreneurs rose to the top to secure their spot in the Box Bazaar’s first cohort. These businesses demonstrated a strong business model and a connection and commitment to the community in East Austin.
Being the first of its kind in Austin, this project has allowed staff to test new concepts and think outside the box. The Box Bazaar is a joint effort between many City of Austin departments including Planning and Zoning, Public Works, Development Services, Economic Development, Austin Transportation, Building Services, and the Office of Innovation.
Meet the Entrepreneurs
Six businesses earned a space among the first cohort of tenants and will receive business coaching and educational resources by the Economic Development Department's Small Business Program throughout their time leasing at the Box Bazaar.
I came to create.
I came here to be of service. And I came here to work real hard.
What we're trying to do is take it back to the basics - engaging with actual people instead of computers.
We wanted to create a space where mothers and daughters could bond together.
What we do is not very complicated. We make ugly things pretty, specifically homes.
Nefertitti Jackmon, Executive Direction of Six Square and member of the Box Bazaar selection panel said, "It's exciting to see people in the community chartering their own path with their passionate and needed business ventures. I hope the incubator space will provide a stepping stone and exposure to experienced and emerging business owners.”
Ora Houston, former District 1 City Councilmember and another member of the Box Bazaar selection panel, echoed the sentiment and said she felt energized by the presentations. “The list is diverse and inclusive,” she added when reviewing the names of the top six finalists. Other panelists included Veronica Briseño – former Director of the City of Austin Small and Minority Business Resource Center, Bamidele Demerson – former Manager of the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural & Genealogy Center, and Pinaki Ghosh – former East MLK Combined Neighborhood Contact Team Chair.