Fort Wayne, Indiana, has one called The City Exchange. http://www.the-city-exchange.com/
Twelve shops share the space with only 150 to 550 square feet each, plus space for a short-term pop-up and space for a kiosk. It’s an affordable place to get started and learn before moving to a bigger space.

“It’s not supposed to be a place to stay. It’s a place to grow,” the manager Jack Ellsworth said in a news story.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, has the Shops @ MoDiv. http://www.shopmodiv.com/ A developer, frustrated by empty retail space they couldn’t rent, decided to try an experiment. They cut the big space into 10 small and easy to reconfigure spaces. The smallest are the size of a closet and the biggest, a bedroom. Even the entryway is being shared by three local artists.

“You couldn’t get me out with a crowbar,” artist Rose Ellis said in a news story. “It’s the best business plan I never thought of. It has turned my life around.”

Nel and Jerry Miles sent this example by email:

“While not a small town Bryan, Texas, has the Old Bryan Marketplace. http://oldbryan.com/history.htm
It’s the old antique mall concept but a bit more focused on contemporary offerings. Antiques and antique mall vendors mixed with local home decor vendors, wedding planners, a restaurant, meeting-room space, as well as tradesmen. Lots small micro shops and displays that make sense for small businesses that don’t have the funds, the time or the interest to maintain a conventional storefront. It’s managed like an antique mall with one checkout counter near the front door. Vendors rent by the square foot. Nice idea for a large old but failed hardware store. It was a wonderful old hardware store, the very best anywhere but downtown faded as businesses moved away… Many attempts to revive the old downtown failed until, in my opinion, these folks conjured this concept. One success enabled others and set a theme. Now, well, all seems to be moving right along. Fond memories of going downtown, hunting for hardware, dreaming of shop tools but settling for a cup of coffee in the old LaSalle hotel coffee shop. Now I probably couldn’t afford it…

Nel and Jerry”

And just remember, small towns pioneered this concept a long time ago. We first talked about it in 2010, with 1440 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana. http://1440main.com/

They are still at it, featuring “concerts and art to antiques and furniture manufacturing.” “These businesses work together to form a entrepreneurial community which benefits the town of Ferdinand in many ways.”

Now, get out there and find a building to sub-divide in your town.