Vacant to Vibrant kicks off the Holiday Season with Five New Pop-ups
It’s an exciting and busy season over here at Vacant to Vibrant—we’re welcoming five new pop-ups just in time for the holidays!
“Each new storefront represents another step toward a more connected, creative, and resilient downtown,” said Simon Bertrang, Executive Director of SF New Deal. “Small businesses like these bring the kind of energy and imagination that make San Francisco’s neighborhoods great. Vacant to Vibrant gives them the space to make that happen, and we’re excited to see this program continue to drive the vision for a new downtown.”
NOW OPEN
📍 The Intersection of Art and Technology (TIAT)
Known for its immersive art showcases, pop-up events, and hands-on workshops, TIAT is a San Francisco-based nonprofit and community hub dedicated to exploring creativity through technology.
“Union Square has long been a place where people come together, and TIAT is honored to contribute to its next chapter,” said Ash Herr, TIAT Founder. “This space will allow us to keep experimenting and building community at the intersection of art and technology.”
📍 Location: 151 Powell Street, San Francisco
🕚 Open Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m, Saturday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m.
📍 The Wild Fox
A new downtown café concept from the team behind SPRO Coffee Lab, The Wild Fox blends vibrant design with espresso-forward beverages and seasonal café fare that meet the precision and creativity of Japanese coffee culture. Rooted in craftsmanship and calm, The Wild Fox reimagines the ritual of coffee as a modern art form by offering a serene, design-forward escape in the middle of SF’s Financial District.
“None of this would be possible without the incredible support and enthusiasm we’ve felt—from our guests and fans to the Vacant to Vibrant team and the Mayor’s Office. It’s inspiring to see so many people fighting every day to make San Francisco the best city in the world,” said Liza Otanes and Rich Lee, Co-Owners of The Wild Fox. “ To be part of that movement, and to add our own small spark with The Wild Fox, is something truly special.”
📍 Location: 123 Battery Street, San Francisco
🕚 Open Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
Coming Soon, Mid-Late November
Fibers of Being (645 Market Street)
Specializing in curated collections that serve the whole gender spectrum, Fibers of Being expands from its Divisadero storefront to a new pop-up on Market Street. Fibers of Being is a modern clothing and accessories store dedicated to filling the gap in representation for gender-fluid clothing.
“Expanding into downtown with Vacant to Vibrant is a powerful moment for Fibers of Being. Our mission has always been to create a welcoming, expressive space for all people through fashion, and bringing that vision to Market Street means showing up with pride in the heart of the city,” said Elizabeth Stewart, Founder of Fibers of Being.
Off the Grid (111 Powell Street)
Debuting its first brick-and-mortar, Off the Grid will bring its signature energy downtown this holiday season with a limited-time pop-up experience. The multi-level space will feature rotating local food vendors and coffee partners alongside event programming and art installations.
“Off the Grid has had the privilege to work around Union Square over many holiday seasons in the past. We’re thrilled to return with something entirely new for our first pop-up,” said Matt Cohen, Founder of Off the Grid. “We see Union Square as the next evolution of Off the Grid: immersive, art-driven, shared spaces that reimagine what a vibrant community looks like in the heart of San Francisco.”
The Best Bookstore (226 Powell Street)
Union Square is getting a bookstore again! Founders of The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs and tech writers/authors Paul Bradley Carr and Sarah Lacy return to the Bay with a new Union Square location.
"I have so many happy memories from when I first moved to San Francisco in 2007 and spent hours wandering through Borders on Union Square and Alexander’s a few blocks away,” said Paul Carr, co-owner of the Best Bookstore in Union Square. “There is an incredible tradition and history of independent bookstores in San Francisco that define each neighborhood. We are so excited to represent the new, local retailer-driven rebirth of Union Square.”
