Belleville, ON, Canada / Quinte News
Alana Cameron
Jun 26, 2023 | 9:58 PM
After five years, Belleville’s Pop-Ups on the Bay has yet to turn a profit for the city.
Council received an update at its meeting Monday, learning that to date, the city has lost almost $64,000 on the West Zwick’s Park initiative.
Councilor Kathryn Brown says while Pop-Ups provide plenty of benefits for the city’s waterfront, she is concerned that the $1,800 rent operators pay for the season, is far less than what brick and mortar small business owners pay monthly.
“That we are asking seasonal people who are pulling in upwards of $75,000 over the course of a season to pay $1,800.  So, as I say, I’m in full support of going back and doing a full analysis on this particular project.”
Councilor Tyler Allsopp suggested it may be creating an unfair opportunity for those summertime businesses.

“More disconcerting was the fact that when this project was initially introduced, it was suggested that it could in fact become an incubator for new businesses. So it was disappointing to read that zero businesses have actually moved from the seasonal to a brick and mortar location so that was a little disappointing.”

Director of Economic & Strategic Initiatives Heather Candler responded that some businesses are really only set up for seasonal work or that some operators tested the market through the seasonal location and then decided that they did not want to continue being a business owner.

There will be a full analysis of Pop-Ups operations after this season, with staff looking to develop a five-year plan that will maximize the city’s investment.