About popup.lease

popup.lease is a free directory of pop-up retail spaces across the US. We're launching in Chicago — one of the best cities for temporary retail, with real vacancy in key corridors and a dedicated licensing framework — and expanding to New York, Los Angeles, Austin, and Miami.

The directory is distribution, not the business. Every existing player in this space — Popable, Storefront, Appear Here — tried to build a marketplace and stayed small because the marketplace economics are weak. Low transaction frequency, thin take rates, and a brutal cold-start problem.

We're doing something different. Give the directory away for free, make it the most discoverable source of pop-up space on the internet, and let the relationships it creates determine the revenue model. Referrals, consultancy, or something else entirely — the market will tell us.

If you're a brand looking for space, start with the directory. If you're a landlord with available space, list it here.