Lol to that photo – not an actual government issued sign.

Last week a corner store opened on 3rd Upshur (the management seems to live in Virginia and park their car on the side walk in front of the store which is horribly ugly still) and today I saw what appeared to be shelf stocking at 8th and Upshur today (also parking on the sidewalk). Both are examples of businesses that clearly have not conducted any market analysis on the competition and neighborhood demand. Off the top of my head I can count 4 others in their respective locations, not including these 2 “new” stores. These businesses will go out of business soon. When they do close or experience hardship the business will take up space while they are stuck legal battles over a defaulting on a lease and loan. I believe the zoning re-write will make it easier for corner stores open up in the District. This policy coupled with the given situation scares me into concluding that more stores like this will open. Don’t get take this the wrong way, I want a “bodega” on the corner like the ones that are open all night in New York stocked with fresh produce, milk, and cleaning goods, that I would typically go to Giant to purchase. However, these stores are far from Bodega’s because they offer few if none of these products, and when they do there is lack quality or even products stocked after their sell by date. These businesses clearly don’t understand that since the recession retail business have been hurting and that opening a small corner with a lack of variety and quality is going to be lost cause when the Safeway opens up. What can we do to recruit positive retail businesses to the area? Can we ask the property owners to at least hold a competition on business plans? Finally, most don’t seem to have sales taxes in their costs? My worst nightmare for the community would be more of these stores opening up as a result of a the zoning re-write that would allow them to open with a tax break from the city.
Other businesses that could operate in these spaces–more clothing stores, a small furniture shop, coffee shops, cafe, sandwich shop, (PIZZA PLACES DON’T COUNT), ice cream.