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The cornerstone of Burlington's Retail Area is the Church
Street Marketplace, attracting approximately 3 million visitors and shoppers
annually. The Urban Land Institute noted that the Church Street Marketplace
"has kept downtown Burlington the retail center of the region."
The four-block long, predominately pedestrian mall is managed by the City of
Burlington through a nine-member volunteer commission. The Marketplace
Commission, which expanded form the shopping center industry model of
management, oversees the maintenance, operation and promotion of the
Marketplace. The Commission's $500,000 budget supports promotional
(festivals, events, advertising) and maintenance activities.
The
Burlington Town Center and the
Church Street Marketplace provide customers with a unique environment where they
can enjoy both a distinctive indoor shopping center and a personality-filled
outdoor Marketplace year-round.
The Church Street Marketplace, one of the most successful
pedestrian malls in the United States, is abutted by classic buildings, many of
which have been handsomely restored in the last decade. Retail space
is nearly 100 percent occupied, complemented by residential and commercial
office space. National tenants such as Laura Ashley, Borders
Books, Old Navy, Pier 1, Lindt Chocolates, Discovery
Channel Store, Eddie Bauer and Banana Republic blend with
distinctive local retailers. In addition, the Market place boosts the
convenience of an enclosed shopping center, the privately-owned Burlington Town
Center, featuring more than 60 shops with renowned retailers such as Filene's,
The Gap and Gap Kids, The Limited, Waldenbooks, Williams-Sonoma,
Abercrombie & Fitch, and Victoria's Secret.
Street vendors dot the Marketplace
throughout much of the year. In the summer months, it teems with added
life, with a dozen sidewalk cafes, itinerant musicians and the ongoing
festivities of a vibrant city.
The Marketplace is extensively programmed and managed to be a
lively place throughout the year. The vitality of the Marketplace is
similar to that of Boston's Faneuil Hall. An estimated 1 million Canadians
visit the State each year, accounting for roughly 13 percent of Vermont total
visitors. Montreal, a city of 3 million people, is only 90 miles from
Burlington.
In addition to the Marketplace, a growing retail sector is
located along Burlington's Waterfront. This up-and-coming area is
connected to the Church Street Marketplace and the University campus by a free
trolley that operates at 15-minute intervals.
Continued public and private development
of Burlington's waterfront will maintain its economic vitality for generations
to come.
Retail space in Burlington ranges form 200 square feet to 25,000
square feet, with varying lease rates depending upon the type of space.
The Community & Economic Development Office keeps an updated listing of
available rental space. Contact CEDO for
this listing.
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