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Doing
Business - Retail Markets
The
cornerstone of Burlington's retail area is the Church Street Marketplace,
attracting approximately 3 million visitors and shoppers annually.
The Urban Land Institute noted that the Church Street Marketplace
"has kept downtown Burlington the retail center of the region."
The four-block long, predominately pedestrian mall is managed
by the City of Burlington through a nine-member volunteer commission.
The Marketplace Commission, which expanded from the shopping center
industry model of management, oversees the maintenance, operation,
and promotion of the Marketplace. The Commission's $500,000 budget
supports promotional (festivals, events, advertising) and maintenance
activities.
The
Burlington Town Center and the Church Street marketplace
provide customers with a unique environment where they
can enjoy both a distinctive indoor shopping center and
a personality-filled outdoor Marketplace year-round.
The
Church Street Marketplace, one of the most successful pedestrian
malls in the United States, is abutted by classic buildings,
many of which have been handsomely restored in the last decade.
Retail space is nearly 100 percent occupied, complemented by
residential and commercial office space. National tenants such
as Laura Ashley, Borders Books, Old Navy, Pier 1, Lindt Chocolates,
Discovery Channel Store, Eddie Bauer and Banana Republic blend
with distinctive local retailers. In addition, the Marketplace
boosts the convenience of an enclosed shopping center, the privately-owned
Burlington Town Center, featuring more than 60 shops with renowned
retailers such as Filene's, The Gap and Gap Kids, The Limited,
Waldenbooks, Williams-Sonoma, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Victoria's
Secret.
Continued
public and private development of Burlington's waterfront
will maintain it's economic vitality for generations to
come.
The
Marketplace is extensively programmed and managed to be a
lively place throughout the year. The vitality of the Marketplace
is similar to that of Boston's Faneuil Hall. An estimated
1 million Canadians visit the State each year, accounting
for roughly 13 percent of Vermont's total visitors. Montreal,
a city of 3 million people is only 90 miles from Burlington.
Street
vendors dot the Marketplace throughout much of the year.
In the summer months, it teems with added life, with a
dozen sidewalk cafes, itinerant musicians, and the ongoing
festivities of a vibrant city.
In
addition to the Marketplace, a growing retail sector is located
along Burlington's waterfront. This up-and-coming area is
connected to the Church Street Marketplace and the University
campus by a free trolley that operates at 15-minute intervals.
Retail
space in Burlington ranges from 200 square feet to 25,000
square feet, with varying lease rates depending upon the type
of space. The Community and Economic Development Office keeps
an updated listing of available rental space. This listing
may be obtained by contacting it's office at (802) 865-7144
or (802) 865-7142 (TTY).
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Tel
: (802) 846-9508