Related Midwest Using Its Equinox Hotel Site As Home For Pop-Up Retail
Related Midwest announced plans to open a pop-up retail market built from shipping containers on the site of one of its proposed Fulton Market projects. "Box Shops by Related" will open on June 15 and run through the end of the year.
The site at 725 West Randolph is where Related Midwest wants to build a 58-story tower with 370 apartments and the Midwest's first Equinox Hotel, a fitness-centric hotel brand. The containers, designed by Latent Design as part of its Boombox concept, are six 160 SF micro-storefronts, a 320 SF shop and a 40-foot-long container tipped vertically to provide signage. Neighboring Haymarket Pub & Brewery will run a beer garden out of one of the containers.
Equinox will operate a multi-sports court behind the containers and host signature fitness classes each week that will be open to the public. The company will also have an Equinox-branded container with ongoing programming and events. Other participating retailers thus far include eco-friendly kids clothing maker Kido Chicago, athletic wear company digitalKENTE, ReformedSchool, which creates bow ties, tote bags and home goods from sustainable materials, and Some Odd Pilot, a creative agency and gallery.
Rents at Box Shops by Related are priced at $1K/month. If Box Shops is successful, Related Midwest plans to expand the concept to other sites it owns such as The 78 or 400 Lake Shore Drive. Related is the highest-profile local developer looking at shipping containers for pop-up retail. Last year, Boxville opened at the 51st Street Green Line station.
