Zero Empty Spaces (Berkeley, CA) - Retail Arts Marketplace Preview
About this Event
Zero Empty Spaces Berkeley: Retail Arts Marketplace Preview
Tour Downtown Berkeley’s newest creative marketplace, meet the Zero Empty Spaces team, and learn how to secure your first month free before our November 7 grand opening.
Zero Empty Spaces is transforming the former Half Price Books at 2036 Shattuck Avenue into a highly visible retail arts marketplace, gallery, and community gathering place for local artists, makers, designers, and creative entrepreneurs.
Following the strong response to our first preview, we are opening the doors again for a second look at the space, available participation opportunities, and the growing creative community taking shape in the heart of Downtown Berkeley.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time: 5:00–6:00 PM
Location: Former Half Price Books
Address: 2036 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704
Admission: Free; RSVP requested
FIRST MONTH FREE IN OCTOBER
To help more local creatives establish a physical presence before the holiday season, Zero Empty Spaces is offering the remainder of October free to approved participants who join during October.
This is a calendar-month promotion, not a rolling 30-day offer. Space is limited, and participation is subject to application approval and availability.
Apply before or after the preview at:
https://www.zeartistspaces.com/rentspace
This limited-time initiative is designed to help artists, makers, designers, and creative businesses move beyond online-only visibility and begin building real connections with customers, collectors, visitors, and the Berkeley community.
SEE THE SPACE BEFORE THE GRAND OPENING
During this open-house preview, guests can:
- Tour the new Downtown Berkeley retail arts marketplace and gallery
- Meet the Zero Empty Spaces team and participating creatives
- See available spaces and understand how the marketplace will operate
- Review participation rates, access, availability, and permitted merchandise
- Learn how to qualify for the October First Month Free initiative
- Ask questions about the application and selection process
- Connect with other local artists, makers, designers, and creative entrepreneurs
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This preview is designed for:
- Visual artists interested in displaying and selling original work
- Makers producing handcrafted or locally made goods
- Designers offering apparel, prints, books, home goods, accessories, or design objects
- Creative entrepreneurs seeking an affordable, highly visible retail presence
- Independent brands and small creative businesses interested in a collaborative marketplace
- Artists and makers looking to build stronger connections with customers and the community
- Community members who want to support Berkeley’s creative economy
- Anyone interested in future Zero Empty Spaces opportunities in Berkeley and throughout the Bay Area
A RETAIL ARTS MARKETPLACE BUILT FOR BERKELEY
Unlike Zero Empty Spaces’ traditional working-artist-studio model, the Berkeley location is centered on public-facing retail, gallery, exhibition, and sales activity.
Participants will be able to display and sell original artwork, handcrafted goods, apparel, books, prints, home goods, design products, and other locally created merchandise through individual spaces and curated retail installations.
The goal is simple: create accessible opportunities for independent creative entrepreneurs while bringing fresh energy, foot traffic, and local economic activity to one of Downtown Berkeley’s most recognizable storefronts.
WHY JOIN THE BERKELEY MARKETPLACE?
Participants can benefit from:
- Affordable monthly participation rates
- A professional retail environment in the heart of Downtown Berkeley
- Direct exposure to customers, collectors, visitors, and community stakeholders
- Opportunities for sales, events, activations, classes, and collaborative programming
- Connections with fellow artists, makers, designers, and creative businesses
- Flexible participation without the burden of a traditional long-term commercial lease
- Marketing, career-development, and professional-development support
- The ability to keep 100% of their artwork and merchandise sales
- A supportive community focused on helping local creative entrepreneurs grow
JOIN US FOR THE NOVEMBER 7 GRAND OPENING
This preview is the next step toward the Zero Empty Spaces Berkeley Grand Opening + Ribbon Cutting on:
Saturday, November 7, 2026
5:00–8:00 PM
Ribbon cutting at 6:00 PM
The grand opening will bring together artists, creative entrepreneurs, local leaders, community partners, residents, and visitors to celebrate the transformation of the former Half Price Books storefront.
Guests will be able to meet participating creatives, explore the marketplace, shop original work, and experience special programming, including a live T-shirt screen-printing activation being planned by Visit Berkeley following its rebrand launch the previous day.
Reserve your free grand-opening ticket:
https://zes-berkeley-grandopening.eventbrite.com
See the energy of a Zero Empty Spaces grand opening:
Inside a Zero Empty Spaces Grand Opening
EAST BAY OPEN STUDIOS COMMUNITY HUB
Zero Empty Spaces Berkeley will also participate as a Community Hub for Winter East Bay Open Studios during both December weekends:
December 5–6 and December 12–13, 2026
11:00 AM–5:00 PM
This regional arts celebration will bring additional visibility and foot traffic to the space while connecting participating creatives directly with new audiences, collectors, and the broader East Bay arts community.
Learn more:
https://www.eastbayopenstudios.com
STAY FOR PRESCRIBING CONNECTION
Immediately following the preview, the space will host Prescribing Connection from 6:00–8:30 PM.
This free community gathering will explore the connections among art, creativity, wellness, and social connection through conversation, live art, music, and interactive experiences.
Reserve a free ticket:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prescribing-connection-tickets-2000494938212
ABOUT ZERO EMPTY SPACES
Zero Empty Spaces activates underutilized commercial properties to create affordable opportunities for artists and creative entrepreneurs while helping cities, downtown districts, and property owners turn vacancy into community value.
Since launching in 2019, Zero Empty Spaces has activated more than 35 locations across six states and supported more than 1,000 artists and creative entrepreneurs.
The Berkeley location builds on that experience through a retail-centered model created specifically for Downtown Berkeley.
APPLY OR JOIN THE INTEREST LIST
Pre-applications are strongly encouraged as we build the initial group of participating creatives:
https://www.zeartistspaces.com/rentspace
Space is limited, and an RSVP is requested for the October 8 preview.
LEARN MORE
Berkeleyside: Artist studios pop up at Berkeley’s empty Half Price Books
https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/08/11/zero-empty-spaces-downtown-berkeley-half-price-books
SFGATE: Berkeley’s former Half Price Books to become a creative community space
https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/berkeley-closed-bookstore-to-become-community-22370565.php
Next City: Using vacant commercial spaces as affordable artist studios is a win-win
https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/using-vacant-commercial-spaces-as-affordable-artist-studios-is-a-win-win
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
The Zero Empty Spaces Berkeley activation is made possible with support from:
- Visit Berkeley
- Downtown Berkeley Association
- City of Berkeley
- Mayor Ishii
- Councilmember Tregub
- Gordon Commercial Real Estate Services
Together, these partners are helping transform a prominent vacant storefront into a platform for local creativity, entrepreneurship, public engagement, and economic activity.
For more information, visit https://www.zeroemptyspaces.com or email [email protected].
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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