2018 Empty Storefronts Conference Recap

Date: November 5th, 2018

Location: Milwaukee, WI (Neighborhoods: Eastown, Westown, Mitchell Street, Bronzeville)

Website: www.emptystorefronts.com

Description: NAIOP WI, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, and NEWaukee present the 4th Empty Storefronts Conference, a day-long conference that focuses on holistic solutions, national trends, best practices, and success stories that lead to action plans and spark ideas to fill empty storefronts. The Empty Storefronts Conference features national and local speakers that have implemented practices and tactics in their own communities and across the country to address vacant storefronts and is hosted in storefronts and neighborhoods across Milwaukee.

Sponsors:

• Town Bank
• von Briesen
• Findorff
• City of Milwaukee
• Hub640
• 310 W. Wisconsin
• Trademark
• Colliers
• Chase Tower
• Hertz Investment Group
• Galbraith Carnahan Architects
• Majic Productions
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
• Milwaukee Downtown, BID 21
• Associated Bank

Website

Web Traffic: 3,493 unique impressions

Social Media

Facebook: 56,565+ impressions

Twitter: 42,253+ impressions

Attendance

Attendees: 198

Attendees By Location:

Attendees by Industry:

Speaker Presentation Links & Contact Information:

• Sarah Filley – “Popuphood: The Transformational Power of Creative Retail Ecosystems”

• Beth Haskovec – “Pop-Up MKE: Temporary Space for Economic Opportunity”

• Danielle Doll – “Saving Face with Branded Space”

• Johnathan Berk – “Harnessing The Missed Opportunity in our Built Environment”

• Ari Takata-Vasquez – “Creative Solutions–Rethinking Retail Real Estate Loss”

• Danielle DeRuiter-Williams – “Who’s at the Table and Who’s on the Menu: Strategies to Promote Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Community Engagement and Outreach”

• Emily Isenberg – “From Vacant to Vibrant”

• Rob Gerbitz – “Breaking the Rules & Building a Reputation”

• Dan Devine – “Building Place and Building Community – How to be Both Gritty and Cool”

• David Mangum – “Retail Triage: Identifying Targeted Techniques for Sustainable Commerce”

• Beth Reynolds – “The Corner Spot, The #bestspotintown”

• Tim Gokhman – “Crossroads Collective: the accidental journey to Milwaukee’s first food hall”

• Zach Vruwink – “Dark Store & Walgreens Loopholes”