About The Co-Lab
Mission Statement
The Co-Lab at South Orange supports local entrepreneurs and creatives launching their brick-and-mortar businesses in downtown South Orange.
How We Operate
The Co-Lab at South Orange is governed by a 501(c)3 nonprofit board and acts as an incubator space creating growth opportunities for small businesses within the surrounding area, and by mitigating some of the cost hurdles involved for start-ups.
Visitors to The Co-Lab will find a rotating mix of businesses offering retail and service offerings including everything from an artisanal cheese counter and handmade gift items, and more!
In addition to providing a space for entrepreneurs, The Co-Lab offers a collective, cooperative, and collaborative space for the community, through events, workshops, and other opportunities that bring people together.
Origin Story
In 2019, South Orange Village leadership negotiated a redevelopment agreement for a 2,000 sq ft commercial space, located in the Taylor Vose building, in the heart of downtown South Orange, for the purposes of offering this business incubator space to our local entrepreneurs and adding to the retail mix in downtown South Orange.
Bringing this project to life has been a collaborative effort involving volunteer leadership from residents, South Orange Village and South Orange Downtown.
Meet our Board of Directors
Hannah Zollman, Chair & South Orange Downtown Representative
Amber Zamora, Secretary
Julie Doran, South Orange Village Administrator
Emeritus Board Members
Sean Moshier
Nicole Josey
Joseph Gabriel
Laura Fernandes
Join us!
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Pop-Ups (Single Days)
Pop Ups are the opportunity for businesses to do marketplace style retail.
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Short Term Vendors (6-9 months)
This is for businesses that are in the process of developing their product/business offerings and want to test the marketplace.
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Semi-Anchors (1 year)
For businesses that are at the place of deciding between a brick and mortar or other avenues of conducting and growing their business and want to test the waters before a longer term commitment.
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Anchors
These are businesses that are ready to transition to, or may have previously had, a brick and mortar retail sector, and want to continue to build traction in their business before graduating to their own space. This category is for more established small businesses.
