Solana Spaces throws in the towel on physical stores: "We DRiPed our last drop!"

GM Guys and Gals,

We have some news that's going to make you want to cry into your token bags. Solana Spaces, the Solana-themed retail storefronts, are closing their doors in NYC and Miami at the end of February.

We know, we know. It's a sad day for Solana lovers everywhere. But, let's not forget that the company is pivoting its onboarding efforts into digital products like DRiP, their free NFT product that has already garnered more than 100k sign-ups. So, dry those tears and let's embrace the future!

Solana Spaces launched its first physical store in New York's Hudson Yards last summer. It was a Web3 onboarding space for newcomers where Solana enthusiasts could buy their favourite Solana-branded merch. Another store opened in Miami's Wynwood district, an area that's known for being a creative and cultural hub.

Unfortunately, the prolonged crypto winter has frozen another ambitious initiative, and Solana Spaces is the latest victim. Founder Vibhu Norby explained the decision, stating that they were a startup chasing a path and that sometimes difficult decisions need to be made.

The team found more efficient ways to onboard people from both a product and financial standpoint, and DRiP is their new focus.

DRiP is a website where collectors can receive free Solana NFTs airdropped weekly. Apparently, the interest in DRiP has surprised the team, with sign-ups surpassing 50,000 this week and another 175,000 on a waitlist to join. That's a lot of people eager to get their hands on some digital goodies!

But, wait, there's more! While the New York and Miami stores are closing, Norby says this isn't the end of Solana Spaces. They open-sourced their stores in November, with the aim to franchise the Spaces globally. One of these franchises is set to open in India in the coming weeks. So, it looks like Solana Spaces is far from done!

If you're in the New York or Miami area, be sure to swing by the stores before they close on February 28th. They'll be offering giveaways and discounts on merch leading up to the last day. Vibhu Norby himself has instructed his retail team to be ultra-generous, so grab some free high-quality Solana gear while supplies last (and with some limitations).

In conclusion, while it's sad to see the physical stores go, we're excited to see where Solana Spaces goes next. And who knows? Maybe one day, we'll all be wearing Solana gear from a franchise location near us.

As the crypto world continues to evolve, we will keep you updated on all the latest developments. Stay tuned for more updates from Web3shala.

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That’s it for the day, Web3Shala 👋

To the Moon 🚀