Popuphood is more than a month old now, and the young project’s future looks promising post-holiday season.

Just a few weeks into the initiative that offered six-month, rent-free deals, two of the six retailers are already talking about signing leases at the end of the inaugural period. But with California redevelopment agencies on the chopping block, Popuphood co-founder Sarah Filley says it will take creative solutions to cultivate similar revitalization efforts.

At a meeting with the retailers earlier this month, Filley heard encouraging feedback. Though the stores’ sales varied widely, “They all were thrilled,” Filley said. 

“Crown Nine has already broken even and they didn’t expect to do that at all,”she added.

The artisan jewelry retailer has tracked sales carefully and more expensive items have proved most profitable. “There is a market for higher end, higher ticket items,” Filley said, noting that this experience debunks commonly held beliefs about the Oakland market.

Crown Nine plans to add a focus on wedding jewelry and hold classes and workshops to augment sales; a Valentine’s Day sale is in the works, too. 

According to Filley, Manifesto Bicycle also is doing well and may begin bike maintenance workshops there.

“This could help them feel comfortable signing a lease,” she said.

Manifesto has the advantage of experience. It was able to transfer much of the infrastructure from its 40^th Street location, unlike other Popuphood members who are first-time business owners.

“For some, it’s only been four weeks that they’ve been open,” Filley said, noting that certain stores have better systems in place to track sales than others. The Jan. 4 meeting provided an opportunity for the retailers to share inventory tools, bookkeeping experience and other strategies. It also gave Popuphood co-founders valuable feedback for future endeavors.

Filley said she is encouraged by the patronage Popuphood receives from visitors.

“Our mission for people to discover Old Oakland is really getting out,” she said. People who work in and around the quaint neighborhood have been strong supporters from the inception, Filley said. The retailers are now drawing visitors from San Francisco and other cities.

As the members hone their businesses models, Filley and co-founder Alfonso Dominguez split their efforts between supporting these small enterprises and working with other organizations in Oakland to facilitate them. 

“Our focus is going to be what can we do on a monthly basis to keep people going down there,” Filley said. She and Dominguez are currently working on creating an event to supplement the monthly First Friday Art Walk and Saturday Stroll line up. They may hold a large event in the beginning of May to celebrate the six-month marker.

While CEDA's - Community and Economic Development Agency - imminent dissolution won’t affect the Nin^th Street pop-up venture, it may stymie further efforts by Popuphood. Oakland Redevelopment Agency Project Manager Brain Kendall said Filley and Dominguez are interested in expanding the Popuphood concept to Swan’s marketplace and beyond, and the absence of redevelopment funding presents a setback.

“I had tons of property owners up and down Broadway who were really excited about what Alfonso is doing and now that’s not going to happen,” said Kendall.

Filley is more optimistic.

“A lot of people are committed to redevelopment,” she said.

Filley's aim is to develop a company that handles design on a city-scale and she will use Popuphood as a pilot project for the company. With a little creativity, she said she hopes this company can develop a model for cross-sector partnerships and alternative funding in a post-CEDA Oakland.

“As citizens, we have a lot of agency to come up with creative solutions,” she said.