First Participant of Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s Retail Storefront Accelerator Program Signs Lease in New York City

NEW YORK, September 26, 2025 /3BL/ - The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce has announced that the first participant of its Retail Storefront Accelerator program has signed a new lease agreement at Manhattan’s Oculus World Trade Center. The program is part of the Chamber’s Storefront Resurgence Project, a comprehensive initiative aimed at revitalizing Manhattan’s commercial corridors.

Calvin Martin has leased space at 185 Greenwich St., Suite LL3001 to open GÜDSPORT, a dynamic group fitness company designed for high performers and competitors, bringing the energy of team sports into a premium facility where members can train with like-minded individuals to maximize results. GÜDSPORT is expected to open in early 2026, marking Martin’s first brick-and-mortar location.

“Starting and maintaining a business is no easy task, particularly in such a competitive scene like New York City,” said Jessica Walker, President and CEO of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. “We launched this program to equip small business owners with the tools, mentorship, and strategies they need to open their first brick-and-mortar storefronts. Last year, our program empowered a group of exceptional retail business owners, and I look forward to seeing Calvin and others take their vision to reality this year and beyond.”

Through the program – which launched in July last year – the Chamber endeavors to assist small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) while also contributing to the commercial revitalization of Manhattan through storefront development. As of Q2 2025, the Chamber has reported that Manhattan vacancy rates are at 13.99%, higher than the New York City-wide vacancy rate of 11.21%, highlighting the importance of this program and others the Chamber is spearheading to drive the success of Manhattan’s local business environment. The program provides entrepreneurs and their businesses with the necessary resources and guidance to successfully launch and maintain a sustainable storefront business in Manhattan. Nearly all of the participating founders last year in the first cohort were women-owned businesses, and more than half were minority-owned, reflecting the program's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in Manhattan’s retail landscape.

“Launching GÜDSPORT and bringing my vision, purpose, and impact to life in this location means everything to me,” said Calvin Martin, founder of GÜDSPORT, a high-octane fitness brand built for former athletes, high-achievers, and competitors, located in the World Trade Center. “I’m honored to have worked with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Wells Fargo, and their partners, and I look forward to building with my team every day to deliver the ultimate experience for the people of NYC. This is truly just the beginning.”

The Storefront Resurgence Project sets out to drive foot traffic along key retail corridors throughout Manhattan, bolster the stability of more than 30,000 existing storefronts, and attract a new generation of entrepreneurs to Manhattan’s retail landscape. Key components of the initiative include business outreach, technical support, and the formation of a Storefront Business Coalition. As part of the project, the Chamber also recently unveiled the Storefront Improvement Program – the next phase in its project – which focuses on revitalizing storefront façades across four commercial corridors in Manhattan. Earlier this year at a branch opening in the Upper West Side, Wells Fargo – a business member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and supporter of the program – presented the Chamber with a $125,000 grant to support the Storefront Improvement Program this year.

“Wells Fargo is excited to celebrate the first signed lease from the Storefront Accelerator Program and help expand the program to other entrepreneurs,” said Krissy Moore, Wells Fargo’s senior vice president, Community Relations, Northeast region. “With the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s leadership, business owners are able to seek the necessary resources to open and maintain a storefront in Manhattan, one of the most competitive markets in the country.”

In early July, the Chamber also announced the launch of the 2026 Summer of Opportunity Coalition, which aims to maximize the economic impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next summer. The events are estimated to generate more than $2 billion and attract 1M visitors to the region, and the Coalition will be encouraging tourism across all five boroughs and ensuring that local businesses benefit from them.

About the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

The Manhattan Chamber is dedicated to empowering businesses, strengthening our local economy, and ensuring that New York remains the world's most exciting and opportunity-rich place to do business. We help, connect, and fight for the 125,000+ businesses across Manhattan. Collectively, these businesses employ 2.4 million people and generate $939 billion in annual GDP.

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