Media Contact:
Eliza Papazian
Public Information Officer
(818) 548-4859
epapazian@glendaleca.gov 

UP AND COMING ARTSAKH CREATIVE RETAILERS
BOOST VISION FOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

Glendale, CA – As the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt by business communities everywhere, Glendale is betting on four small businesses to bolster the City’s vision for an Arts & Entertainment District. 

These finalists, who were selected to participate in the Artsakh Creative Retail Accelerator Program, are moving into four vacant City-owned retail spaces for a 6-month trial. These four businesses will have an opportunity to test their business concept for several months:

• Naked Frankie – offers a line of natural self-care products emphasizing sustainability through refillable containers and education. Opened on August 27.
• The Glendale Room – from the creator of the Westside Comedy Theatre and Dynasty Typewriter, the Glendale Room will feature live comedy shows as well as standup, improv, and writing classes. Opening date: TBA.
• The Glendale Cultural & Art Center – is a cultural center that focuses on all forms of art: fine, practical, and commercial. The Center will also offer various art classes. Opened on September 3.
• Mkrtchyan Art Gallery – a purveyor of museum quality artwork, first opened in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1992. Opening date: TBA.

These businesses and their focus on arts, cultural, and entertainment experiences will further activate the street as Glendale continues to position itself as a hub of arts and entertainment. Their presence will be within the storefronts and extend into the Artsakh Paseo with activations and programming. The four businesses are expected to be open by September 2021.

Before  the Artsakh Creative Program launch, the popular My Relic art exhibit by She Loves Collective was housed in the Artsakh retail units. Other cultural and entertainment experiences found in the Arts & Entertainment District include the Alex Theatre, Central Library, Museum of Neon Art, and LOOK Dine-In Cinemas. The district will also be home to the future Armenian American Museum, which broke ground in July 2021.

Four more businesses will have an opportunity to participate in the program in early 2022. Applications for Round 2 of the Artsakh Creative Program will open in October 2021 and will be available at ChooseGlendaleCA.com/artsakh-creative. At the conclusion of the second round, construction is anticipated to begin in the Artsakh Paseo to transform the space into a pedestrian paseo heavy with artistic components.  

Learn more about efforts to revitalize the arts and entertainment district at ActivateArtsakh.com. The City of Glendale’s Economic Development Division actively explores ways to support the local business community through a combination of conventional efforts and new, outside-the-box ideas, including the Artsakh Creative Program. Visit ChooseGlendaleCA.com/ for more information about Economic Development in Glendale or connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @ChooseGlendale.

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