Brooklyn-Based MGB POPS Marketplace To Kick Off 2015 Season With New Vendors, Arts & Entertainment
(Brooklyn, NY) (PRWEB) May 26, 2015 -- Brownsville’s Mother Gaston Boulevard POPS (MGB POPS) market returns Friday, May 29 for its second season of curated cuisine, clothing and creative wares provided by local and regional vendors. The 2015 season opener is scheduled to kick off with a welcome message from Brooklyn Borough president Eric Adams, vendor discounts and giveaways, as well as performances by internationally acclaimed performer and Def Jam poet alum Kayo Charles, the Royal Knights Marching Band and hip-hop artist Path P.
Spearheaded by New York City Economic Development Corporation and Community Solutions (NYCEDC), MGB POPS was created in response to Brownsville residents’ request for more high-quality community spaces and alternative retail options. With this need in mind, the two organizations injected new life into a once-vacant 2,500 square-foot city-owned lot. Working with local artists, craftsmen and chefs, the open air marketplace debuted in October 2014 as a premier retail destination for area residents, featuring eight freestanding vendor kiosks and two repurposed shipping containers.
This year’s vendors include Made In Brownsville, JuJu’s Box, Poshe Fashions, Ancient Blends Naturals by Yendys, Cocoritehouse art/deco and face painting by Honeybee Face & Body Art. For these vendors, MGB POPS is much more than a fun and inviting space for the community. The marketplace’s neighbor-to-neighbor commerce model is also sparking real economic opportunity with incubator-like support that allows vendors to experiment and grow as small businesses.
“This is a great opportunity to engage with the community that we serve,” said Quardean Lewis Allen, founder/director of Made In Brownsville and a returning vendor. “Being able to test ideas and get feedback on the products we’re producing for the community is invaluable.”
The community-centric site will also host an impressive lineup of emerging entertainment acts from Brownsville and the larger Brooklyn area throughout the season. Patrons can expect jazz performances, gospel music, rap, spoken word, along with special events from the Brooklyn Arts Council. DJ Hard Hittin' Harry (Apollo Theater), DJ JahMedicine (Tap+Cork), DJ Chink (BRC Old Timers’ Day) and DJ KING will also be part of the rotating lineup.
Located at 425 Mother Gaston Blvd, MGB POPS kicks off Friday, May 29, 4pm-8pm and will run Fridays from 4pm to 8pm and Saturdays from 1pm to 5pm through the end of November 2015.
For more information, visit http://www.mgbpops.com.
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About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is the City's primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs. NYCEDC's mission is to stimulate growth through expansion and redevelopment programs that encourage investment, generate prosperity and strengthen the City's competitive position. NYCEDC serves as an advocate to the business community by building relationships with companies that allow them to take advantage of New York City's many opportunities. Find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or visit our blog to learn more about NYCEDC projects and initiatives. For more information, visit nycedc.com
About Community Solutions
Community Solutions is an international non-profit organization working toward a future without homelessness, where poverty never follows families beyond a single generation. We adapt the best tools and technologies from multiple sectors to help communities solve their most urgent social problems. For more information, visit cmtysolutions.org.
Steph Harmon, Kladé Group, http://www.kladegroup.com, 347.708.2829, [email protected]
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