On the heels of a successful run in Frederiksted, St. Croix, earlier this month, the Made in the USVI Pop-Up Shop is returning to St. Thomas on Thursday, the V.I. Economic Authority announced Tuesday.
The Made in the USVI initiative, made possible through a continued partnership between the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC), and the Virgin Islands Council for the Arts (VICA), aims to support the territory’s artisans and manufacturers. Like many other pop-up ventures, the shop will operate for a limited period, from Dec. 14 to 23 and has changed its location. This year, the Made in the USVI Pop-Up Shop will be in the heart of Main Street, next to Precious Jewels in a two-story tan-colored building, according to the press release.
Since the first Made in the USVI Pop-Up Shop opened in December 2018, it has featured 100% locally made products from across the territory and has made it easier for residents and visitors to find and purchase items that are unique to the U.S. Virgin Islands in one convenient location. Shoppers can select from a variety of products such as art, books, clothing, food, jewelry, and many other items that may help to fulfill holiday wish lists, the press release stated.
“It is exciting to bring the Made in the USVI Pop-Up Shop back to St. Thomas,” stated Nadine Marchena Kean, EZC’s managing director. “We find that residents look forward to this opportunity every year, with some asking for items from specific vendors even before the shop opens. This year is particularly special as we will be located on Main Street, amid the Miracle on Main Street activities on December 15. We hope the community will once again come out and support their favorite Made in the USVI vendors or discover new products from an artisan they were not aware of before.”
In the five years that the Made in the USVI initiative has existed, pop-up shops have opened on St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John at peak times during the year, such as the holiday season or Carnival/Festival time. Earlier this year, a Made in the USVI kiosk was opened at Vendor’s Plaza in St. Thomas, offering a permanent location for residents and visitors to purchase locally made products when the pop-up shops are closed. It is also strategically surrounded by Made in the USVI-branded vendor kiosks. Regardless of the location, however, the pop-up shop always carries items made by local manufacturers and artisans from all three islands in the territory, helping to expose these small businesses to a wider customer base, the release stated.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to look for the Made in the USVI sign on the Main Street storefront as they go about their holiday shopping. The Made in the USVI Pop-Up Shop hours are 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., it said.
