Temporium reaches $31,000 in sales, attracts 6,800 visitors

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium announces the completion of its 24-day experiment in temporary urbanism and sales figures that doubled expectations. Mt. Pleasant’s first pop-up shop grossed more than $31,000 in sales from its 1,030 customers, 70 percent of whom reside in the District’s Ward 1.

The Temporium, developed by Mount Pleasant Main Street (MPMS) and funded by the DC Office of Planning’s Temporary Urbanism initiative, housed 34 local artisans and crafters from Feb. 18 to March 13. Over the course of the project more than 6,800 visitors came to the Mt. Pleasant St. NW business corridor to shop at the Temporium and attend its 23 special events—which included storytelling, crafting, book readings, and live music.

The Temporium’s afterschool printmaking workshop—How to Screen Print Monsters!—was attended by Bancroft Elementary School students and hosted by local printmaker Anthony Dihle. (photo by ©Renée K. Carl)

“The revenues generated by the Temporium show that creative daytime retail can be incredibly successful in Mt. Pleasant,” said Temporium project director Jessica Scheuerman. “We hope that this project spurs more investment in the arts and retail in our neighborhood and that more people begin to discover the diverse range of shops, restaurants and experiences we already have here.”

To help activate the corridor, visitors were encouraged to explore the neighborhood and its businesses. Seven Mt. Pleasant businesses offered specials, ranging from $1 coffees to $5 discounts, to Temporium shoppers and three special events were housed elsewhere at La Casa Community Center and Don Juan Restaurant.

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium was located in an under-utilized storefront at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. The space was loaned from Nana, a clothing retailer relocating from U St. NW and re-opening this Saturday, March 19.

“My husband and I dreamed about how nice it’d be to open a store in our own neighborhood,” said Jackie Flanagan, co-owner of Nana. “Working with vibrant business owners and neighbors on the Temporium shows how great it is when reality surpasses the dream. It’s an honor to open Nana in Mt. Pleasant.”

Hello Craft, the organization that curates the popular Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair, was the vendor curator for the Temporium. “They played an invaluable role not only in curating a diverse selection of handmade goods, but in managing the nuts and bolts of setting up a retail shop including inventory management and merchandise presentation,” said Scheuerman.

Kimberly Dorn, executive director of Hello Craft, greets vendors at the Temporium’s closing reception on March 13. (photo by ©Tyler Strickland)

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium was the District’s second. The first Temporium was implemented on the H Street NE corridor in July 2010. A third Temporium, the Garment District in DC’s Shaw neighborhood, closes this weekend.

“This success demonstrates how powerful it is when community members come together and build something based around their hopes for their neighborhood’s commercial strip,” said Natalie Avery, who worked on the Temporium. “Mt. Pleasant is filled with so many creative people and hidden gems. It’s been great to be part of—and see the city support—an effort that really showcases what a special and dynamic place this neighborhood is.”

MPMS, in partnership with SpeakeasyDC, Hello Craft, Radio CPR, Partners for Livable Communities, and the DC Office of Planning, developed the Mt. Pleasant Temporium. The Washington City Paper, Old School Hardware and Mythic Paint were sponsors.

“MPMS is thankful to the DC Office of Planning, its program partners and dedicated volunteers for the opportunity to implement a Temporium in Mt. Pleasant,” said Adam Hoey, president of MPMS.

For more information, please visit www.mtptemporium.com or contact Jessica Scheuerman at mtptemporium@gmail.com.