Our Mission
The latest expansion in Bloom’s non-profit mission to support entrepreneurs and drive economic growth in Portsmouth, Bloom Market helps local makers reach new customers and successfully grow their early-stage business while providing Portsmouth residents and visitors a curated collection of quality, locally-made products they can’t find anywhere else.
Created for the community, not for profit.
An extension of Bloom Coworking, Bloom Market is a collaborative project by the Portsmouth Partnership and the City of Portsmouth.
Seeing the opportunity to help local founders and create a new retail destination in Olde Towne, we transformed the storefront lobby of Bloom Coworking’s 719 High Street location into Bloom Market. Opening in March 2024, Bloom Market is a 1,200 sqft retail shop featuring a rotating collection of Portsmouth-made products from jewelry to gourmet snacks and everything in between.
With funding from the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority and operational support provided by the Portsmouth Partnership, Bloom Market offers Portsmouth residents and visitors one-of-a-kind locally-made goods while helping vendors chart a path to long-term success with education and mentorship to grow their business.
About Bloom
Bloom is a non-profit Coworking space that provides professional office space, education, and support services to eliminate barriers and help entrepreneurs successfully start and grow their business.
Bloom was created and managed by the Portsmouth Partnership, a volunteer organization of business and civic leaders committed to driving economic growth and development in the City of Portsmouth.
This mission has taken many forms in our 74 year history as we adapt to the city’s changing needs where our efforts can have the greatest impact. We have attracted thousands of visitors with tentpole festivals and events, catalyzed industrial investment and job creation with national PR campaigns, and provided low-cost small business loans totaling over $10,000,000 in 2022 dollars.
1991 brought reorganization and a new goal to develop valuable underutilized properties throughout the city to attract new investment, revitalize entire blocks, and increase tax revenue in City Hall. In 2020 the Partnership sold its last remaining properties to the City of Portsmouth below cost to be used for new public and private development. With that sale, our goal of the last 30 years had been achieved and it was time to decide where we go next.
A flurry of recent developments had brought over a thousand new residents to Olde Towne and with them new restaurants, retailers, and businesses. Coworking spaces were on the rise but Portsmouth had little to offer the region’s entrepreneurs, young professionals, and remote workers looking for a flexible work space and an innovative community to call home. Portsmouth needed an anchor to attract the growing professional class that will drive the future economy. This idea would find a home in the former Blumberg’s department store in Olde Towne with a name that both represents our mission and pays homage to the building’s history – Bloom.
The next chapter for the Portsmouth Partnership, Bloom is the culmination of our successful history attracting new businesses, helping them grow, and investing in underutilized property as a catalyst to drive economic growth in Portsmouth.
Learn more about Bloom at bloomcoworking.org
Bloom Market is made possible by the Portsmouth Partnership and the City of Portsmouth Economic Development Authority.
