Madison Marquette encores retail business incubator program

San Francisco -- Madison Marquette has announced the return of its retail business incubator program it calls Retail Star.



As part of the program, Madison Marquette is on the hunt for the third consecutive year to find entrepreneurs with new viable retail concepts.



The competition returns to Bayfair Center, in San Leandro, Calif., and kicks-off for the first time this year at Bay Street, in Emeryville, Calif., according to Madison Marquette.



The eight-month program is designed to make the dream of a new business a reality for motivated entrepreneurs. Bayfair Center is seeking the next great Retail Star in food service and awarding the winning food concept a prize package that includes: $25,000 in start-up funds from Madison Marquette; a complete build out in the newly completed Bayfair Center Food Court; and free rent for a year -- total value of more than $200,000.



Bay Street is looking for a Retail Star with a unique retail concept to fill a shopping center RMUs (retail merchandising unit) with a prize package including: $5,000 in start-up funds from Madison Marquette; a shopping center RMU to house their winning concept; and free rent for one year -- total value of more than $90,000.



“The Retail Star program has been a huge success at Bayfair Center the last couple of years and we are thrilled to expand the program to include Bay Street this year,” said Madison Marquette Managing Director of Western Region Eric Hohmann. “We are confident we will find two Retail Stars with innovative concepts and encourage entrepreneurs, graduating college students and local visionaries to enter the competition.”