Meantime believes in the power of cities.
Vacant storefronts are bad for everyone – and the status quo commercial real estate industry can’t solve the problem alone. We operate alongside traditional long-term leasing, activating spaces with short-term programming in service of communities.
Our work aims to create a cultural shift, promoting new ways of thinking around the value, expectations, and programming of neighborhood streets. We live in cities to support diverse, vibrant, one-of-a-kind experiences that enrich our everyday lives.
MEANTIME SEIZES THE MOMENT
We’ve helped a high school English class dream about their neighborhood futures.
We’ve participated in panel discussions and conferences, like SXSW.
We’ve invited the public to experience a former movie house, left vacant for the last 60 years.
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If you have ideas about how to get Meantime involved with your city, organization or initiative – please reach out, we’d love to talk!
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WHAT WE’VE DONE
Check out our past activations below!
2201 MARGARET ST
11.12.22
BRIDESBURG
PHILADELPHIA
The very first Meantime event was a one day multi-program activation of the Blumenthal Chocolate Factory in the Bridesburg neighborhood. Highlighting analog culture, the event featured a vendor marketplace curated by Now + Then Marketplace, modular synth sounds by Modular on the Spot Philly, and a series of workshops and musical performances organized by Hungry Monsters.
The two-floor experience featured food and shopping on the ground level during the day and dusk-to-night music performances upstairs. The wide open warehouse was in open-air condition prior to the full restoration of the building soon after.
4102 LANCASTER AVE
09.16.23
WEST PHILLY
PHILADELPHIA
Meantime hosted Velocities 2, a daylong activation of the former Leader Theater in West Philadelphia highlighting the building's history as a cinema and neighborhood event space. Curated and programmed with Steph Irwin, Jerry Kaba and Eugene Lew, the event featured vendors by Now+Then Marketplace, workshops, a special film screening, live analog synth sounds, and visual projection performances lighting up the historic theater room for the first time in nearly sixty years.
1131 N FRONT ST
06.06.24
FISHTOWN
PHILADELPHIA
As a pilot project funded with the City of Philadelphia Commerce Department - Meantime organized a 60-day storefront pop-up including art, music, shopping, workshops and events featuring local makers, creatives and start-up entrepreneurs. Collaborative program curators included Now + Then marketplace, Almost Famous, The Low Pass, Inliquid, South Philly Autonomous Cinema and artist Daniel Cappello.
806 N 2ND ST
12.01.24
NORTHERN LIBERTIES
PHILADELPHIA
Atelier Prajje Oscar activated a Northern Liberties storefront over the 2024 holiday season. A fashion designer and lifestyle brand, Prajje brought a clear vision for the look and feel of the store. The space was not just for shopping, but served as a public-facing showroom and by-appointment customer consultation workshop. This was our first single tenant storefront activation.
22 S 40TH ST
05.01.25
UNIVERSITY CITY
PHILADELPHIA
Located at a busy corner in University City, this former plant shop space provided great foot traffic and natural light for the 60-day programming agenda. West Philly Bizarre and Meantime veteran Almost Famous brought several weeks of shopping pop-ups that also included music and a creative workshop. This activation was supported by University District.
456 N 5TH ST
XX.XX.XX
CALLOWHILL
PHILADELPHIA
With programming partner Now and Then Marketplace, this was our first major vacant retail space activation in a new construction project. The large space accommodated dozens of table vendors which also spilled out onto the urban plaza and became an indoor/outdoor experience. A capsule art exhibition with work by Heather Phillips and Fjord Gallery also occupied the space.
