Anthony Panissidi, @APPanissidi11:32 a.m. EDT October 17, 2014

Howell, New Jersey – Leonard Solondz thought of a unique gift idea for the upcoming holiday season.

Solondz, the manager of Howell Plaza shopping center on Route 9 South near Aldrich Road in the township, will offer a free storefront to a local nonprofit from the second week of November through Jan. 15.

“It serves the community a benefit, it serves our users within the center a benefit and it’s a win-win situation,” Solondz said. “In a time when the economy is not necessarily the strongest, we’re doing as much as we can to bolster and support our users. We believe this will increase foot traffic to our users. It strengthens both users and the community.”

Solondz does not have any preference as to what type of local nonprofit fills the space. He has not yet determined the specific space within the plaza that will be used, but he estimates that the one chosen will be 1,400 to 1,600 square feet.

“I don’t have anything in mind,” he said. “We open it up at large, whether it benefit war veterans or it helps a community not-for-profit that needs support.”

Applicants must submit a letter that includes the organization’s background, the group it serves, how it serves that group, its planned use of the storefront in terms of goals, timing and amount of space needed, and how it will benefit from winning this opportunity.

Applicants must email their submissions by Oct. 27 to RobertaB@WinklemanCo.com with a subject line that reads, “My Nonprofit Needs a Pop-Up Space!” Upon signing a short-term lease, the selected organization will receive its own key to open and close the storefront within the shopping center’s guidelines. Tenant insurance is required, but electricity and move-in fees will be waived.

“If we have any available space within the center, we’ll be inclined to do this on an annual basis,” Solondz said.