At Lake Eufaula, the community of Carlton Landing offers a desirable, year-round waterfront lifestyle for residents and visitors. Its commitment to a strong network of pop-up retailers – from unique boutiques to tasty fare from food trucks – only enhances the convivial, small-town atmosphere. It’s a winning situation for everyone.
“Sometimes you go to these big markets that are hundreds of people just looking at things,” says Alice Canada, executive director of Carlton Landing Foundation. “The Carlton Landing pop-ups market is a smaller area, but we have more intentional guests who want to talk to small-business owners and learn about their product and get invested in the vendor. Vendors have a captive market when it comes to the products that they’re bringing. They meet people who need their services or products, and there have been beautiful business partnerships out of that. Charcuterie carts that also do catering – things like that.”
On the flip side, “as far as the community of Carlton Landing goes, of course there’s the sales tax benefit and having an economic center.”
Carlton Landing’s pop-up marketplace allows for flexibility within a two-block area, anchored by a group of portable vendor sheds. Adjacent to the sheds and next to the festival stage, there’s commercial power for food trucks, also used for concerts and special events. Tents for businesses can be added as well.
“So we have the ten sheds, we have space for upwards of 50 tents for vendors with a 10-by-10 or 10-by-20 pop-up canopy, and we also have room for three to four food trucks, depending on size,” Canada says.
Pop-up shops are important for Oklahoma’s economy, but also for aspiring business owners.
“Pop-ups are a vital starting point for small businesses,” says Ray E. Little, Director of Entrepreneurship and Small Business for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “People always have great ideas – everyone believes that they’re going to have the next big thing. A lot of businesses fail not because of lack of effort, but lack of preparation or overestimating their market. The ones that are more successful really are thoughtful and intentional.
“If it’s something that consumers want and is in high demand, once you use it as a pop-up shop and you see that it grows and the community is yearning for it, it can go from a concept to inception to a small gathering to a pop-up shop to a brick-and-mortar to W-2s,” continues Little. “Gatherings of pop-ups are a chance for business owners to show their products and gain more traction for customers. But it also gives an economic boost to the communities.”
The “pop-up to permanent” dream does happen for many entrepreneurs, with food trucks leading the way. Canada says a local truck that offered pizza is now a restaurant in town. Additionally, a pop-up boutique moved to a permanent onsite location and then opened branch stores in Oklahoma City.
Carlton Landing’s summer pop-ups are open during morning hours every weekend through July, with annual marketplaces in October and December, and inclusion in additional public events throughout the year.
“It’s a really special place for vendors and community members alike,” Canada says. “You’re experiencing the neighborhoods and walking around and being able to say hello to the same people that you ran into at the marina. It continues to build this community.”
