# Retail Reinventions Mini Wedding Space, Tiny Drive-In At Manhattan Grand Opening By Katie Cordrey | Published 2009-10-03 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/manhattan-grand-opening References: [gopublicprojects](http://www.gopublicprojects.com/) & [coolbusinessideas](http://www.coolbusinessideas.com/archives/grand_opening.html) Owned by brothers Ben and Hall Smyth, the [Manhattan Grand Opening](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kings-hawaiian-soft-pretzel-bites) is a design company that reinvents the front of its store as a [rotating exhibit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/on-rotation1) of many “Grand Openings.” Some of the successive, interactive, community-accessible installations the Manhattan-based Grand Opening are described below: The world’s smallest drive-in movie theater consisted of a movie screen in front of a single blue 1965 [Ford](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boondock-work) Falcon convertible. The scene was surrounded by a faux starry sky of tiny twinkling lights seen through sheer black fabric. (Because of its popularity, the Smyth brothers are looking for a permanent location.) The Wedding Chapel is a *very* pink floral space that can be rented by the hour for nuptials and subsequent receptions. Grand Opening has proclaimed the venue ‘Vegas—-the New York way.’ In a three-month initiative called PONG, locals were given the opportunity to ‘engage in a unique and entertaining table tennis experience.’ There was even a final tournament to let those with table tennis talent shine. The original Manhattan Grand Opening project, Barn for Sale, sold salvaged barn wood. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 63% | Activity: 91% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Sports](https://www.trendhunter.com/sports) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Interactive Storefronts:** Opportunities for businesses to create rotating exhibits and interactive installations in front of their stores. - **Micro Event Spaces:** The rise of renting small, themed spaces by the hour for events and gatherings. - **Unique Experiences:** Offering locals the chance to engage in unique and entertaining experiences, such as table tennis tournaments. ### Who This Affects Most - **Retail Design:** Designing innovative storefront concepts that attract customers through interactive installations. - **Event Rental:** Providing micro event spaces for rent, allowing people to host small gatherings and events. - **Entertainment:** Creating unique entertainment experiences for locals, such as table tennis tournaments and interactive exhibits. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Branded Interactive Parks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birkenfields.md) - [Community-First NYC Flagships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/telfars-nyc-flagship.md) - [Adaptive Community Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spaced-agency.md) - [Vintage Homeware Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vintage-homeware-shop.md) - [Record-Breaking Rental Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rental-pop-up.md) - [Global Product Launch Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/go-get.md) - [Curated Store Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/target-soho-store.md) - [Revived Modular Photo Booths](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frames-booth.md) - [Maximalism Playful Roller Discos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xanadu.md)