Shaw Main Streets

07/06/2021

Three Puerto Rican Mayors Visit Shaw Main Streets

On Friday, July 2, 2021, mayors from three cities in #PuertoRico, Yauco, Utuado and Guayanilla, visited Shaw Main Streets at the suggestion of the Main Street America's National Main Street Center. The mayors were in DC visiting federal government agencies and members of Congress and wanted to see an example of the Main Street Four Point Approach in operation.

SMS Executive Director Alex Padro, whose paternal grandparents were born in Puerto Rico, welcomed the eight-member delegation at Grand Cata Latin Wine Shop, an example of a successful Pueto Rican (and Chilean American) owned SMS business.

The group next went to Compass Coffee's flagship store on 7th Street, where District Manager Jessica Hubbard gave the group a tour of the operation after discussing where Compass' coffee beans are grown. Yauco Mayor Angel Luis Luigi Torres Ortiz made sure Jessica knew that Yauco is internationally known for the quality of its coffee. Indeed, the city is known as "La Ciudad del Cafe" ("The City of Coffee" in Spanish). Padro offered that Pope John XXIII only drank Café Yaucono. Utuado Mayor Jorge A. Pérez Heredia made sure all knew that his city had recently planted hundreds of coffee plants.

After sampling some of Compass' coffee drinks and dicussing the prospects for statehood for both Puerto Rico and the District, the group moved on to dinner at Qui Qui DC (www.quiquidc.com), the new Puerto Rican restaurant on the second floor of the adjacent bar, The Passenger. Chef/Owner Ismael Mendez was grateful for the group's patronage and asked all to sign his Puerto Rican flag-draped autograph wall after enjoying a delicious dinner of authentic dishes.

Two chauffeur-driven black Cadillac Escalades provided by U Street Parking transported all to City Market at O Street for a visit to that award-winning mixed use development. Guayanilla Mayor Raul Rivera Alcalde 2020 agreed with his colleagues that at almost 80,000 square feet, the Giant Food store is larger than Home Depots in Puerto Rico.

After a stroll through City Market, a tour of 7th and 9th Streets ended in Little Ethiopia, where the visitors witnessed Shaw's vibrant nightlife before returning to their hotel.

"It was a "gran placer" ("great pleasure") to share Shaw Main Streets' success stories with "los tres alcaldes" ("the three mayors")," said Padro. "I'd love to see Main Street help transform towns and cities in Puerto Rico the way that Central Shaw has been revitalized. We wish them "gran exito" ("great success").

#loveshaw #shawdc

06/29/2021

"Shaw: Then and Now," 06/30/21, 12 PM. Join DC Preservation League for a one hour trip through time in #shawdc, featuring historic photos of what familiar neighborhood landmarks looked like in the past. Presented by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director
Alex Padro. FREE.

https://www.dcpreservation.org/event/shaw-then-and-now-with-alexander-padro/

Historic Photo: Courtesy DC History Center

05/28/2021

SMALL BUSINESSES FEAR 9TH STREET CYCLETRACK WILL DO WHAT COVID-19 COULDN’T: FORCE THEIR RESTAURANTS, BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS TO CLOSE FOREVER

BUSINESSES PRESS NEED FOR CHANGES TO PLANS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Shaw businesses fear that plans to reduce parking and impose rush hour parking restrictions on the 1900 block of 9th Street, often referred to as Little Ethiopia, and other parts of 9th Street will cripple and even extinguish their small, independent businesses, already struggling due to more than a year of pandemic closures and other safety measures, according to Shaw Main Streets, the nonprofit organization that has been supporting the revitalization of central Shaw since 2003.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced on Friday, May 28, 2021 that the agency is moving forward with constructing the 9th Street Cycletrack. The details of proposed changes to 9th Street have never been formally presented to business owners and residents of 9th Street, but DDOT officials showed the plans to Shaw Main Streets staff in late 2019 and early 2020, seeking input on the controversial proposal. The project has received significant opposition from Shaw churches and others that have been briefed on the plans. Attempts by DC Council members to force Mayor Bowser and DDOT to move forward with the project in 2019 and 2020 failed to gain the support of a majority of Councilmembers. It is not known what caused the mayor and DDOT to move forward with the project at this time.

“No one wants to see bicyclists injured or killed on our streets,” said Alexander M. Padro, Executive Director of Shaw Main Streets. “But the plans, which no business owners have been shown, need to be modified in order to avoid a business bloodbath.”

The portion of 9th Street known as Little Ethiopia faces the most dramatic impacts from the cycletrack. Traffic and double-parking on the 1900 block of 9th Street, NW are constant during business hours, which extend until the early morning hours because of the high number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs on the block that operate until 3:00 AM, 4:00 AM on holidays.

Restaurants with parklets, who have been told that they would be able to continue to operate these outdoor spaces for a year after the end of the pandemic in order to help their struggling businesses recoup some of their losses, are despairing the loss of revenue that the parklets are currently producing. There are seven parklet now in operation on 9th Street between Massachusetts and Florida Avenues. Several other applications are in the process of being submitted. Many businesses and residents have advocated for the parklets and streateries to become permanent.

“After the devastating year of COVID, Unconventional Diner and other businesses on the east side of 9th street are now faced with more devastating news - the loss of our beloved and economically essential outdoor dining space to make way for bicycle lanes,” said Eric Eden, co-owner of Unconventional Diner, which has the largest parklet on 9th Street, with 80 seats. “While we appreciate the environmental benefits of alternative transportation, we are baffled by the city’s plan to drop to one, north-bound vehicular lane on our super busy and blossoming street. As more and more DC residents and visitors use ride shares, we wonder where do Uber/Lyft drivers drop passengers? Does all north-bound traffic now stop to wait for pickups and drop-offs? And what are the CO2 impacts of this new congestion? As business owners who live and work in the District, we ask that the powers that be carefully consider the economic impact - likely in the millions of dollars - to our businesses and the loss of sales tax from those sales. More studies and more community outreach are in order. We believe that there’s surely a solution that allows for cyclists, business owners and vehicular traffic to safely and efficiently coexist.”

“The cycletrack will devastate Little Ethiopia,” said Alan Ebert, Executive Director of the 9th Street Business Association, representing businesses on the 1900 block of 9th Street, NW. “We don’t understand how such a dramatic change could be imposed on our businesses without anyone being shown the plans in advance. At best, the cycletrack should start at T Street. At minimum, the parking restrictions need to be reduced. Otherwise, businesses will be forced to close.”

Neighborhood residents also have concerns about the number of tractor trailers that cross the route of the proposed cycletrack, including those servicing the Washington Convention Center and City Market at O, as well as several garage entrances. Some have suggested 11th Street would be a safer route, and would avoid the negative impact on businesses.

“It’s time for DDOT to release the detailed construction drawings that they’ve previously refused to make public, so that all Shaw stakeholders, including businesses, residents, and churches can see for themselves what the 9th Street cycletrack’s impact on their operations and lives will represent,“ Padro declared. “A single lane of traffic northbound, no rush hour parking when restaurant and bar patrons start arriving at 5:00 PM, and the loss of current diagonal parking during church services on Sundays have to be balanced against the need for cyclist safety. If this project is going forward, everyone who lives and works on 9th Street needs to have the opportunity to weigh in and have their concerns addressed.,”

About Shaw Main Streets

Shaw Main Streets was established in 2003 to encourage and support economic revitalization and historic preservation along central Shaw’s 6th, 7th, 9th and 11th Street, NW commercial corridors. The organization has attracted and supported over 400 new businesses to the central Shaw commercial district, resulting in the creation of thousands of new permanent jobs. Over $3 Billion in commercial and residential development have been facilitated by Shaw Main Streets’ efforts. Shaw Main Streets has developed two mobile apps promoting neighborhood businesses, DineinShaw and ShopinShaw, available for both the Android and iphone platforms. Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor.

04/03/2021

A Blossom Blooms in Shaw!

Stop by #ProgressionPlace at Seventh & S in #shawdc to see artist #DavidGreenfieldboyce's "Petal To the Metal," one of 26 National Cherry Blossom Festival #ArtinBloom sculptures. Then stop by
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken Prescription Chicken Saya Salteña few doors away at 1819 7th Street, NW for a snack while you're at it! Now through May 31, 2021.

Thanks to #FourPoints DC and Steve Cassell for hosting this sculpture.
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Brianne Nadeau Larry Handerhan Shaw-Howard Neighborhood Association

#seeninshaw #loveshaw💋 #shawdc

03/14/2021

Thanks to GW Rodham Institute and Recreation Wish List Committee for the donation of 25,000 masks and 72 gallons of hand sanitizer that Shaw Main Streets distributed to 13 small, independent Black-owned businesses in #shawdc. This PPE will help protect the businesses' employees and customers from COVID-19 and help their businesses survive the coronavirus crisis. #seeninshaw #loveshaw

01/01/2021

Local food delivery app "DC To-GoGo" could help restaurants survive pandemic

Shaw Main Streets is proud to have been the first to support the launch of DC To-GoGo , a great outside-the-box idea with the potential to help #savedcrestaurants like San Lorenzo Ristorante + Bar survive. Congrats to the #ivyandconey team!

https://wjla.com/news/local/local-food-delivery-app-dc-to-gogo-could-help-restaurants-survive-pandemic

Indoor dining in the district is closed right now due to the pandemic, which is going to be hard for restaurants and bars who rely on New Year's Eve to pack their businesses and rake in cash before the clock strikes midnight. An app could help district restaurants ring in the new year with a profit....

12/24/2020

Last Minute Gift Shopping Tip

Looking for unique last minute gifts? Check out the #ShawVirtualHolidayArtMarket featuring the work of 18 #DMV artists. Includes prints, jewelry, apparel, photographs, paintings, mixed media & much more.

https://artallnightdcshaw.com/artists

DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities DC Department of Small and Local Business Development

12/23/2020

Watch the ceremonial resolution presentation ceremony for #shawdc's 'Little Ethiopia' on Facebook Live today, Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 12:30 PM featuring The Council of the District of Columbia members @BrianneKNadeau and @CMBrandonTodd and Ethiopian Ambassador Fitsum Arega

Read the ceremonial resolutionhttps://lims.dccouncil.us/downloads/LIMS/46028/Introduction/CER23-0337-Introduction.pdf

#loveshaw👄#shawdc #littleethiopiadc #sistercities #addis

12/19/2020

Carter G. Woodson Virtual Birthday Celebration, 12/19/20!

This year's celebration of the birthday of the Father of Black History will be a virtual event. Woodson was born 145 years ago. The event, hosted by Shaw's Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site @nps.cawo starts at 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 19, 2020.

https://facebook.com/NPS.CAWO
https://www.youtube.com/c/ASALHTV

#shawdc #loveshaw #shawhistory #dchistory DC Preservation League Cultural Tourism DC Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6E MidCity DC

11/29/2020

HAPPY SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY!

Small businesses are the backbone of our neighborhood. In a year that has proven to be one of the most challenging in memory, Shaw's businesses have faced unprecedented challenges. Some have successfully pivoted, adopting unfamiliar practices such as takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery, and creating parklets and streateries. Others closed their doors for good, and 13 opened their doors for the first time, adjusting their plans and expectations.

For the 11th consecutive year, Shaw Main Streets celebrated Small Business Saturday with ribbon cuttings for new businesses, although the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated that the ribbons were virtual ones. Please watch this video to meet the entrepreneurs behind some of our newest businesses and see what they have to offer.

Our 13 newest businesses are:

1914 BY KOLBEN, 1914 9TH ST, NW
ANDY’S PIZZA, 2012-2014 9TH ST, NW
ECHO PARK, 2016 9TH ST, NW
ELECTRIC COOL-AID, 512 RHODE ISLAND AVE, NW
ELITE DOMINICAN HAIR SALON, 803 FLORIDA AVE, NW
EMMY SQUARED, 1924 8TH ST, NW
OYSTER, OYSTER, 1440 8TH ST, NW
PEARL’S BAGELS, 1017 7TH ST, NW
PRESCRIPTION CHICKEN, 1819 7TH ST, NW
RUMI’S KITCHEN, 640 L ST, NW
TAQUERIA XOCHI, 924 U ST, NW
SALON REVIVE, 944 FLORIDA AVE, NW (New Location)
WHOLE FOODS, 967 FLORIDA AVE, NW

Thank you to everyone who came out to shop in our commercial corridor today for supporting some of the city’s best small businesses. Please remember that the over 300 businesses, old and new, in central Shaw need your support every day, not just on Small Business Saturday and during the holiday season.

Thanks to Streetz Media, Three 8 Communications and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen for helping to recognize our new businesses through the preparation of the virtual ribbon cutting video.

@SmallBizDC @NationalMainStreetCenter #ShopSmall #ShopLocal #LoveShaw💋

11/25/2020

Small Business Saturday | Shaw Main Streets

#FREEMONEY!! We're counting down to #SmallBusinessSaturday in Shaw and making it rain SHAWBICKS to spend at participating businesses in the Shaw neighborhood! You could snag $20 to spend at the location of your choice. We'll be doing Instagram giveaways on #BlackFriday starting at noon. Enter, win and #ShopinShaw this Small Business Saturday!

Visit www.GiftRocker.com/SHAWBUCKS for participating locations!

11/25/2020

Shaw Main Streets's cover photo

09/25/2020

AAN 2020

The Art All Night 2020: Virtual Edition Talent Showcases are back tonight tonight and tomorrow at 7:00 pm. Get the family and get ready for srteaming content from talent across our city. Don't bother with dinner, Shaw has the best selctions to accompnay tonight's shows. Find selections for the entire family at www.DCArtAllNightShaw.com and make sure to try Shaw-based delivery and ordering platfrom DC To-GoGo.

Then head to www.DCArtAllNight.org and sit back and enjoy the show and some delicious #ShawDelivery. Happy Art All Night!

09/20/2020

Shop the Art All Night DC Shaw Virtual Art Market, featuring painting, mixed media, photography, jewelry, wearable art & more by #DMV artists. 100% of all sales go to the artists. https://artallnightdcshaw.com/artists Thanks to DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
& DC Department of Small and Local Business Development
for their support of DC Art All Night

09/19/2020

AAN 2020

Watch the first two nights of DC Art All Night Showcase performances tonight @ http://dcartallnight.org & order dinner & drinks to go from DC To-GoGo or your favorite @shawdc bars & restaurants. See almost 50 options at https://artallnightdcshaw.com/food-drink Thanks to DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities & DC Department of Small and Local Business Development

09/19/2020

Tonight, 09/18/20: Night One of the Art All Night DC 2020 Virtual Edition Showcases!

Be sure to catch Art All Night DC in Shaw perpetual favorite Christylez Bacon headlining the first night of streaming content presented as part of this year's virtual festival.

And don't miss Aaron Abernathy's performance at #shaw's DC9 Nightclub.

To view the streaming content, go to dcartallnight.org.

Be sure to return on Saturday, 09/19/20, Friday, 09/25/20 and Saturday, 09/26/20 for the other three Showcase nights.

And if you're hungry and thirsty, check out the #shawdc restaurants and bars that are offering food and drinks for delivery and pickup. If you haven't tried the DC To-GoGo delivery service, this is a perfect time to order in while you enjoy the show!

A full list of Shaw bars and restaurants offering takeout and delivery can be found at https://www.artallnightdcshaw.com/food-drink

And after the show, check out some great art at the Art All Night DC Shaw Virtual Art Market https://www.artallnightdcshaw.com/artists

Enjoy the night!