WtC #MADEONMOTT RESIDENCY

Your first storefront starts here

Welcome to Chinatown is launching a dedicated space for entrepreneurs who have never had a brick-and-mortar presence, but are ready for one.

Selected small businesses will get the chance to test their vision and take a leap forward with a three-month residency at our storefront incubator on Chinatown’s Mott Street.

What #MadeOnMott is

The Storefront Incubator hands a rising entrepreneur a fully built-out storefront for three months, at a fraction of market rent. It's a chance to bring your business to life in a real space, in front of 5,000 people a day and see what's possible before you ever sign a lease.

A model built around your success

If selected, you move into a fully built-out, ready-to-go storefront. No construction, no build-out costs, and no waiting. You pay a low monthly base of $700 per month, utilities and insurance, plus a small single digit share of your sales. You will never pay more than the actual cost of rent for the space.

More than a space

By moving in, you’re also plugged into a network: mentorship and capital through our Advisors, connections to landlords for your next lease, and a community of fellow founders.

#MadeOnMott Residency Timeline

By November 9, 2026, we'll select four residents: one for each quarter below. Placement will be based on seasonality and business type. 

  • Q1: Jan 5 – Apr 4, 2027 

  • Q2: Apr 19 – Jul 19, 2027 

  • Q3: Aug 2 – Nov 1, 2027 

  • Q4: Nov 15, 2027 – Feb 15, 2028 

Each resident has the storefront to themselves for the entire three-month slot.

Who #MadeOnMott is for

Founders ready for a storefront to be their next move. You've built real traction online, through wholesale, or at pop-ups and markets, and a physical space is the one thing standing between you and your next stage. If you can already picture exactly what you'd do with a storefront, this is for you.

This program is open to all product and retail businesses, including packaged food and beverage brands — as long as items are shelf stable and made off-site (the space isn't a commercial kitchen).

Ready to apply? Check out the timeline details below.

#MadeOnMott Application Timeline

There are three stages to the application process. Throughout the process, qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next round. 

Phase 1: Interest Form (opens July 8 – closes Aug 30, 2026) Share a short intro through a form, so we can get to know you and your business.

Phase 2: Full Application (Aug 31 – Sep 20, 2026) Strong-fit applicants are invited to go deeper — your business, your numbers, and how you'd bring the storefront to life.

Phase 3: Interviews + Public Showcase (Oct 5 – Oct 30, 2026) Finalists meet our team and pitch live. The community weighs in through a public vote, and we check references.

Notifications (by Nov 9, 2026) Every applicant hears back, whether or not they move forward.

Phase 1 is now open through end of day, August 30, 2026. Click the button and complete the 5-minute open interest form to be considered for the next round.

I'm Interested!
NYC's Chinatown Mott Street by Kat St. Martin

Excited to apply for the Storefront Incubator but don’t know where to start? Sign up for an office hour appointment here (happening at The Hub or virtually, on July 21st and August 13th at 2-4 pm) and Welcome to Chinatown staff can answer any questions you may have about the program or application process.

Mott St. was always made for this

For over 150 years, Mott St. has been where people arrived with an idea and left their mark. Now it’s your turn.

1858

The first Chinese immigrant to settle on Mott St. opens a cigar shop — the seed of what would become Manhattan's Chinatown.

1873

Merchant Wah Kee opened a store, a benevolent society, and a community gathering place at 34 Mott St — all under one roof. Chinatown, as New York knows it, started here.

1888

The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) establishes its headquarters at 16 Mott St., serving as an unofficial government role for the Chinatown area.

1890

Wing on Wo, Chinatown’s longest-running business, officially opens on 26 Mott St.

1938

Chinatown’s second-oldest restaurant, Wo Hop, opens its doors on 17 Mott St.

1947

Plans begin for CCBA’s move to its new HQ at 60-64 Mott St.

196os

Mott St. commerce expands onto the stretch between Grand St. & Hester St. Cantonese-style restaurant, Hop Kee, opens on Mott in 1968

2025

Flourishing businesses continue to grow in the area. Mei Lah Wah expands into 41 Mott, while Wo Hop expands onto street level with a new dining area.

2026

WtC receives a Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant from NY State to renovate an empty storefront at 19 Mott St. and launch the community’s first incubator space — Made On Mott — to lower the barrier so business owners that deserve a shot can test their vision without carrying the full risk.

2027

Your very first storefront, at 19 Mott St., nestled among community icons, Wo Hop and Hop Kee.

Phase 1 is now open through end of day, August 30, 2026. Complete this open interest form to be considered for the next round of the application process.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Research has shown that starting a storefront location can feel out of reach for many entrepreneurs. Commercial rent costs are high and lease terms are long. To actively address these risks, Welcome to Chinatown has identified 19 Mott Street, a prime location in Chinatown’s historic core, as the location for a permanent rotating pop-up to empower businesses to trial run their own storefront. The program’s ultimate goal is to lower the barriers to entry and enable high-performing entrepreneurs to take the next step in their business.

  • The residency is a 3-month program that allows a business owner to test their brick-and-mortar vision at significantly subsidized rent at 19 Mott St. The 550 square foot space will be move-in condition. 

  • This program is open to all product and retail businesses, including packaged food and beverage brands — as long as items are shelf stable and made off-site (the space isn't a commercial kitchen).

  • Phase 1 of the official application form is now open until the end of day on August 30, 2026. Fill out our 5-minute open interest form to be considered for the next round of the process.

  • There are three stages to the application process. Throughout the process, qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next round. 

    Phase 1: Interest Form (opens July 8 – closes Aug 30, 2026)

    Phase 2: Full Application (Aug 31 – Sep 20, 2026)

    Phase 3: Interviews + Public Showcase (Oct 5 – Oct 30, 2026)

    Notifications (by Nov 9, 2026) Every applicant hears back, whether or not they move forward.

  • A community panel will evaluate each applicant based on a comprehensive evaluation of their business plan, history, and financials. Applicants will also be asked to participate in a final interview to assess the best fit for our incubator program.

  • Businesses that are selected for MadeOnMott will be required to operate their storefront for a period of three months during the 2027 calendar year, and we will share expected hours / days of operations ahead of move-in day. Those selected for residency may be asked to participate in light marketing activities supporting the MadeOnMott program. 

  • Yes! Welcome to Chinatown will coordinate with selected business owners for several targeted advisory sessions ahead of their residency period, to help them prep and maximize business performance during their residency.

  • After the residency, we’ll continue to stay in touch and the business will be invited to Welcome to Chinatown’s entrepreneur network. If the business owner is interested in opening their own storefront, we’ll help connect you with mission-aligned landlords in the neighborhood.

The Made On Mott Residency is possible thanks to support from: