Make It On Main: Win a Free Year of Rent!

Character: A property company is proud to announce a business plan competition for one year of free rent at a new building along with supportive resources. Considering the tough year the hospitality and food-service industry faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the company desires to extend the opportunity to allow a new restauranteur to enter the market without the burden of rent for one year. In addition to a free one-year tenancy, Character has teamed up with Kimelberg PLLC, Oxford Pennant, and Block Club to help provide wrap-around services to the winner.

Many startups struggle with finding the right location, accessing capital, managing overhead expenses, navigating the permitting processes, and the daily tasks of managing the business. Given the difficult year the food service and hospitality industry faced navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, barriers to entry have become even more cumbersome. This competition seeks to help level the playing field. Make-it on Main is a business plan competition that encourages entrepreneurs to compete for the chance to open a new food-service establishment and earn a startup package with one year of free rent at 808.5 Main Street, helping to turn their dream into reality.

Character is soliciting proposals from qualified food service operators to offer a lease at 808.5 Main Street. At the doorstep of Downtown, in the shadow of the iconic St. Louis Church in downtown Buffalo, 808.5 Main Street is a small parcel sandwiched between two recently renovated and occupied historic brick structures. Its placement between two buildings makes the space quite narrow, but in a way that lends itself to creating a highly unique space that will offer visitors a memorable experience. This peculiarity is one element that entrants in the contest will have to work through in their contest submissions.