Know a recently-rebooted storefront that deserves recognition? Nominate it for the Citywide Storefront Challenge, an awards program for outstanding storefront facade improvement projects!

Business owners, customers, neighbors, designers, contractors, corridor managers, and property owners can nominate any storefront improvement project located in Philadelphia and completed since October 2010.  Nominations are due Friday, September 14, 2012.

Winners will be recognized on Wednesday, October 10 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street at an awards celebration hosted by the City of Philadelphia Commerce Department and the Community Design Collaborative.

A host of fun awards will be handed out for storefront improvements ranging from a complete overhaul to smaller facade refreshes, including...

CREATIVE deSIGN –most unique projecting sign

UP AGAINST THE WALL—most unique flat wall sign

WINDOW DISPLAY—best window display (may be a temporary installation)

GREEN WITH ENVY—best example of sustainable design and construction

HONOR THE PAST—best historical restoration

NIGHTLIFE —best strategy for activating a building at night

PROTECTION to PERFECTION—most inventive security grate

CORRIDOR CATALYST—best motivator to other local businesses

BANG FOR THE BUCK—biggest impact for the lowest cost

EXTREME MAKEOVER—most transformative

BEST OVERALL—best complete package

The Citywide Storefront Challenge is part of an ongoing partnership between the City of Philadelphia Commerce Department and the Community Design Collaborative to promote reinvestment in storefronts—the backbone of most neighborhood commercial corridors—and to show the connection between strong design and successful neighborhood business development.