Pueblo PopUp is a creative placemaking initiative that transforms forgotten spaces into vibrant marketplaces celebrating the artists, makers, entrepreneurs and small businesses that define Pueblo's creative spirit. More than a marketplace, Pueblo PopUp is a community movement that blends history, commerce, culture and storytelling to create immersive experiences where people discover local talent while reconnecting with the city's remarkable heritage.

Pueblo PopUp was founded through a collaboration between Gregory Howell LLC, Artisan Textile Co., Kadoya Gallery and the Pueblo Star Journal. Together, the founding partners envisioned a marketplace that would celebrate Pueblo's creative economy while demonstrating how arts and culture can drive neighborhood revitalization and economic opportunity.

The initiative was supported by an award-winning proposal submitted by Gregory Howell LLC through the Comcast RISE Small Business Grant program. The vision was simple but ambitious: re-imagine the traditional artisanal marketplace by activating vacant and underutilized spaces and giving artists, creatives and makers an affordable platform to showcase and sell their work while building community.

The inaugural Pueblo PopUp marketplace opened in April 2024 at Blo Back Gallery in Pueblo's Grove neighborhood. The enthusiasm from artists, vendors and visitors confirmed the demand for a new kind of community marketplace. Later that year, in November 2024, Pueblo PopUp expanded into the historic former Clark Western Wear building at the corner of Third and North Main streets in downtown Pueblo, transforming another iconic space into a destination filled with creativity, local commerce and community engagement.

In October 2025, the movement continued with De-Stash, a special Pueblo PopUp marketplace hosted in the parking lot of Renewed Wholesale. The event introduced an outdoor format while continuing the mission of supporting local makers and creating memorable community experiences.

In April 2026, Pueblo PopUp found its newest home at Watertower Place, where the industrial history of Pueblo provided the perfect backdrop for artists, makers and entrepreneurs. Following the success of that event, organizers committed to establishing Watertower Place as the permanent home for Pueblo PopUp, with annual Spring and Autumn marketplaces designed to celebrate creativity, strengthen small businesses and continue breathing new life into one of Pueblo's most historic destinations.

Today, Pueblo PopUp continues to evolve as a celebration of Pueblo's past, present and future. Every marketplace brings together local businesses, artists, musicians, food vendors and storytellers while transforming overlooked spaces into places of discovery, connection and opportunity. By investing in creativity and community, Pueblo PopUp demonstrates that economic development can begin with imagination and that every forgotten space has the potential to become a place where people gather, create and thrive.