5th and Shepherd store

[from Bill C.]

This morning I was talking with Tegest, who with her husband Malessa owns the corner store at 5th and Shepherd. Their business has been hurting during this downturn and she asked what she could do to encourage more customers. I was telling her that if they carried organic milk, for example, I'd buy it there all the time if the price was reasonable.

I went back and found a previous post about this. There were many good comments and suggestions for improvements. The city program mentioned in the post (reStoreDC) didn't pan out in terms of funds for the store, but I just printed out the comments and will drop them off there (better late than never), to make sure they saw them.

It seems like the property owner doesn't want to spend money on the building itself. But it's clear there are plenty of upgrades that can be done by the business owners themselves. I'll discuss the comments with them and see what they want to do.

One idea - maybe if residents were willing to join a one-off volunteer crew, we could help them do a quick makeover. Any takers?

Tegest also said people could email her directly with requests to carry specific items.

Comments

[Petworthian]

I will never patronize this store again after the owner verbally attacked me for putting trash in one of the garbage cans out front ( a bag of dog poop) on my way into the store to make a purchase. He kept yelling at me while I was inside and I left, never to return again. I'll keep shopping at Safeway until the little market at Warder and Rock Creek Church road gets rebuilt. They know how to treat customers there.

[Bill C.]

I went by the store last night - they had painted the ceiling and were in the process of moving the shelving and refrigerators around... Not a cure-all, but moving in the right direction! The woman who works there in the evenings said it was because of the Petworth News comments they received.

Stop by and show them some love! I'll make sure the owners see this latest thread as well.

[Markus]

What beers does Town & Country carry? That used to be my go-to local beer stop when I first moved to Petworth. The owner would joke that me and one other guy were the only ones who bought the Sierra Nevada he stocked.

Now I patronize the 5th/Shepherd shop, but it's just my "in a pinch"...serious beer shopping takes place elsewhere.

[Bill C.]

Actually they have some good beers. Not quite as many good ones as Town and Country (next to Domku), but not bad at all in a pinch.

[Wayan]

I would support the store with my frequent beer purchases, if they stocked beer I wanted to buy.

The convenience store next to Domku has my business currently, as the owner keeps asking me what beer I'd like to try, and stocks a few fancy beers right next to cases of the cheap stuff.

That's the way to diversify clientele - ask & offer what they want.

I'd also be happy to help with a weekend makeover. The building owner may want to stay cheap, but I'd put labour and supplies into making it have better street & customer appeal.

[leslie]

Thanks for supporting this store! I'd certainly help them with a one day blitz/makeover.

They could consider serving as a drop off point for in-season produce from local CSAs (organic farms). CSAs have drop offs in VA and other parts of DC.

http://www.localharvest.org

[JMa]

Suggest that she talk to Mr. Abaje at Windows Market in Bloomingdale (RI and 1st). He went through the same sort of transition a few years ago, and now has a thriving business catering to both old and new residents. He stocks fine wine and gourmet snacks as well as standard corner store items.