The Innovation and Design Building Is Installing Shipping Container Kiosks

Photo provided

The Innovation and Design Building in the Seaport District is welcoming eight vendors to set up shipping container kiosks along its promenade, which will begin operating in phases over the next few weeks.

Mei Mei and Roxy’s Grilled Cheese are scheduled to open their new shops in time for American Field, a pop-up exhibition and market of locally made goods that will take place at the Innovation and Design Building on September 12 and 13.

Back in January, Mei Mei co-owner Andrew Li teased that the team was experimenting with a “low-prep menu” for the then-unconfirmed location. On Wednesday, the restaurant announced on Facebook that the new concept would be called Mei Mei by Design and will offer sandwiches, soups, salads, and more.

In addition to Mei Mei and Roxy’s, six more vendors will open their new micro-retail outposts at the Innovation and Design Building by October, likely in two phases, says a representative for Jamestown, the real estate and investment firm behind the project. Five shipping containers have been delivered to the site so far.

The other vendors include healthy juice and tea maker Jubali, seafood eatery Yankee Lobster Co., high-end coffee stand Triangle Coffee, boutique plant shop Niche Urban Garden Supply, hardware supplier Drydock Exchange, and hair salon Cut-Splice.

The installation of shipping container kiosks is a feature of the ongoing redevelopment plan for the Innovation and Design Building, a former storehouse for the South Boston Army Base and current base for various commercial tenants, including architects, engineers, tech companies, research and development firms, craftspeople, and showrooms. Other upgrades, whose total cost exceeds $100 million, include window replacements, new and improved lighting, ground floor entrance and main lobby renovations, indoor bike racks, new signage, 16 new showrooms, and centralized heating and cooling systems.

One of the repurposed shipping containers that will be installed at the Innovation and Design Building. / Photo provided