SOUTH BEND – The Downtown South Bend Holiday Pop-Up Shops have been selected and the new shop are beginning the transformation of empty storefronts into stores willed with a variety of merchandise for the holidays.

Pop-Up Shop participants do not selected their own space. They have the challenge of transforming what has been given to them into a suitable and enticing backdrop for their merchandise in just 10 days.

The 2012 shops are Indiana Rug Co., 132 S. Michigan St.; a co-op consisting of The Ludus Machine, As the Wood Turns and Mycentir Mosaics at 140 S. Michigan St.; and Gifted, Gifts of Joy and Shelly’s Angel Photography at 225 S. Michigan St.

The shops will remain open through Dec. 29.