Update 2/21/14 The six storage units designated for a business incubator at Downtown Self Storage in Huntsville, Ala., have been sublet in time for the March 1 launch of the Clinton Row Project. The units are leased to Downtown Huntsville Inc., an organization committed to bringing diverse and sustainable businesses to the region. The project is designed to provide temporary homes for young retail companies and lure entrepreneurship to the downtown area.

Signed tenants include All-N-One Health, a boutique selling natural and health products as well as workout items, and local artist Christina Wegman, who will sell original paintings and prints. Another gallery, liveEASY, will feature locally handcrafted art and goods, while Woodtech will offer custom-woodworking products from Alex and Fred Dietrich.

The other two units will feature Posh Couture, a designer-clothing boutique, and The Rocket Shoppe, which will offer Huntsville-themed merchandise and local products.

All six businesses will open on Saturday, March 1, with a grand-opening celebration planned for early April.

1/30/14 Downtown Self Storage in Huntsville, Ala., has agreed to sublease six ground-floor units to startup businesses to help lure entrepreneurship to the downtown area and serve as an incubator for young retail companies. The units are leased to Downtown Huntsville Inc., an organization committed to bringing diverse and sustainable businesses to the region. Called the Clinton Row Project, the incubator will officially launch March 1.

Facility owner David Johnston said he immediately liked the subleasing idea when approached by Downtown Huntsville because he believes the incubator businesses will fill a need as more young professionals move into the area. This used to be one of the prime retail streets in the city, he said.

Project tenants subleasing through the facility at Jefferson Street and Clinton Avenue will pay $100 per month for a 10-by-10-foot unit and be allowed to customize the interior space. "It gives local, small business entrepreneurs an opportunity to test whether their retail concept can be successful in an urban, walkable setting like downtown," said Chad Emerson, CEO of Downtown Huntsville.

Although the organization is still in the process of finalizing some subleases, Emerson said the business tenants will likely hold soft openings in February leading up to the March 1 grand opening.

Signed tenants include Live Easy, a startup featuring local, handcrafted art and goods, and local artist Christina Wegman, who will sell original paintings and prints. A third unit will serve as a rotating gallery of artists who will be able to display and sell artwork in two-week time slots. A fourth unit will be occupied by Business Button, a public service launched by volunteer organization Huntsville Open Tech Coffee, which is dedicated to accelerating high-tech startups in Madison County.

Downtown Self Storage was founded 15 years ago in a building that previously housed a furniture store and a dealership for farm equipment.

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