BATAVIA, IL — Business owners looking to test out brick-and-mortar spaces have the opportunity to apply to join the Batavia Boardwalk Shops as part of the initiative’s fourth season running.
Located on the southeast corner of Wilson and River Streets in downtown Batavia, each of the 10 shops measures 12 feet by 12 feet. Applications for the spaces opened Dec. 1 and will be available through Jan. 31.
The Batavia Boardwalk Shops allows budding businesses to sell products and services to patrons, many of whom stop by the stores when visiting the Batavia Farmers Market.
Of the eight shops operating in Batavia Boardwalk Shops’ inaugural season in 2020, six later moved to permanent locations. In 2021, six of the 10 shops opened brick and mortars and are “succeeding in business,” according to the nonprofit that operates the shops. So far from 2022’s batch, two have signed leases for their future homes.
“If history is any indication, many owners will learn that they can move on to a permanent location after the close of the season in late December 2023,” officials said in a news release.
The new shops will be open from the end of May until the end of December 2023.
Applications can be found online via Batavia MainStreet’s website.
