Learn the Ins and Outs of Retail Space Rentals in Kentucky Antique Malls

Do you live in the Louisville, KY, area? Are you interested in starting your own business but don’t quite know where to start? Never fear! Let’s look at the realities of Kentucky vendor booth rentals so you can start crafting your game plan.

The Benefits of Renting a Retail Space in a Kentucky Antique Mall

While opening a traditional brick-and-mortar storefront may feel tempting, any business owner will tell you it comes with a slew of complications. If you want to turn a profit without being restricted to spending your days manning your shop, you might be better suited to a booth rental. That way, you can rent a booth, fill it with your favorite merchandise, leave the selling to the mall’s staff, and spend your free time hunting down new finds!

With minimal startup and overhead costs, renting a booth at a vendor mall is also less financially risky than opening your own store. As a vendor, you’ll be agreeing to a shorter lease, which can feel much less stressful. In this business model, you also wouldn’t have to pay employees—the mall takes care of that.

Rented retail spaces also come with a built-in family! When you set up shop in a Louisville antique mall, you’ll get to know the staff, your neighboring vendors, and returning Kentucky antique-lovers. Who wouldn’t want that?

Stop By and Say Hello to the Newest Antique Mall in Kentucky!

We’re ecstatic to expand our business to the heart of Kentucky next spring! As our fourth location (following Highland, IN, Algonquin, IL, and Melbourne, Florida), America’s Antique Mall Louisville is sure to be a hit for the locals and out-of-towners alike. The 46,000-square-foot mall will fit 290 booths, 144 showcases, and plenty of excited customers on the daily!

Interested in joining the fray as a Louisville vendor? Start your application today.

Who Can Rent a Booth in Kentucky?

The good news? There is no experience necessary to rent an America’s Antique Mall retail space. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-time business owner or have hopped around between malls for the past decade—if you’re passionate about what you do, you’re sure to prosper!

What to Think About When Considering a Booth Rental in Kentucky

By now, renting a retail space in an antique mall is probably sounding better by the minute. Before you make the leap, make sure to take these questions into consideration:

What Do You Intend to Sell?

When you start taking this step towards renting a booth seriously, you’ll need to consider what you want to sell. While you can always go the eclectic route and stock your shelves with any merchandise that catches your eye, many vendors recommend finding and sticking to a niche, such as limited edition Hot Wheels or antique quilts. Any vendor application will ask you which types of items you plan to offer, so it’s important to figure it out early on.

Items That Sell Well in Kentucky:

• Sports memorabilia

• Rare coins

• Vintage kitchenware

• Antique jewelry

• Upcycled furniture

• Nostalgic toys

• Collectible figurines

How Long is the Retail Space Lease?

When you’re considering different retail spaces, whether it be a storefront or a vendor mall, it’s important to look at the lease. Most malls offer short-term leases ranging from month-to-month to six months. Once you have all the options laid out in front of you, you can compare the pros and cons of each lease length. 

What is the Monthly Rent?

If you’re renting at a vendor mall, make sure to ask about the monthly rent early on in the application process. At America’s Antique Mall, you’ll start with a $100 deposit fee to reserve your booth rental. Our booths are $2.75 per square foot with booths ranging from 8X10 to 14X1 feet.

Pro tip: The majority of antique malls have a commission fee. When someone purchases an item from your shelves, our mall takes a 12% cut from the price.

How Far Away is the Retail Space from Home?

Before you fall in love with a retail space, make sure it’s the most convenient option for you and your daily routine. Is it within a comfortable driving distance from your home? Or is it just far enough away that it wouldn’t be worth it?

Will Your Collections Be Safe within the Retail Space?

If you get the chance to tour a vendor mall or talk to the manager, make sure to ask about their location’s security measures. Are there security cameras? Do they offer lockable showcases for smaller, high-value items? Do they have any prevention tactics in place to thwart theft?

Are There Required Vendor Hours?

Remember, each vendor mall in Kentucky is different! Some, like ours, are run entirely by a welcoming and kind staff. Others may require their vendors to work specific hours throughout the week. Both have their pros and cons—it’s just a matter of which fits your schedule best.

Does the Mall Hold Any Events?

Part of the appeal of renting a booth instead of leasing a storefront is the automatic sense of community. America’s Antique Mall, for example, hosts a wide variety of different classes, workshops, and holiday events—and anyone is welcome! Some malls even let vendors lead events related to their specialty.

While we’re still nailing down the events for our Kentucky location, we’re likely going to draw inspiration from our other stores’ calendars, which include:

• Trunk-or-Treats

• Arts & crafts courses

• Book clubs

• Comedy nights

• Collectors meet-ups

• Plant swaps

• ….and more!

What if a Booth Rental is Not Right For You?

Are you interested in setting up shop in a retail space but don’t necessarily have big enough items to warrant a booth rental? Ask about our showcases! Appropriately sized for smaller items, the lockable glass showcases in America’s Antique Mall Louisville are the best way to keep your collectibles safely on display. You can rent these alongside your booth or separately.

Take this as your sign: it’s time to turn your favorite hobby into a business with America’s Antique Mall Louisville. We may not be open yet, but we’re already on the hunt for the most enthusiastic vendors to rent our booths. Join the family and become a Kentucky vendor today!