Empty Storefronts
In my travels around the neighborhood it seems that quite a few businesses have vacated the area. So I decided to take my camera and record what was out there. My journey started at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for daycare drop-off and ended at Lowes for varnish pick-up. I have lived in the neighborhood for 6 years so remember the old Ukrops (damn that place was small) and think that we currently have more businesses than we did 6 years ago but have not validated that theory.
Below is a slideshow of my trip.[slideshow id=7]
Dang, this slideshow is depressing. It sure doesn’t give much hope for the planned development next to Blockbuster.
Richard, I wish there was a way to tag the photos, because some of those I recognized and some I wasn’t sure of. A couple I thought were still open — guess I haven’t been looking closely enough!
I’ve been here almost ten years, and while a lot of places didn’t last, we’re miles ahead of where we were then when it comes to shopping and eating close to home.
Anne I changed a setting and now you can see what the last business that occupied that space. There is at least one misspelling which I blame on my liberal arts education. You might need to put your cursor on or near the picture.
Mark I think we are just reflecting the overall economic downturn that is occurring throughout the country.
What I think this neighborhood really needs in the strip between The Forest and 48 Hours is a good bakery or doughnut shop. So if somebody could get on that it would be great. Also I need a soccer pub on this side of the river, thanks.
A hearty second for the football – er soccer – pub. I’ll share a pint with you, Richard!
As far as a bakery goes, my family and I have been living pretty well from the baked offerings at the Farmers’ Market… Bread for the Masses turns out some amazingly good stuff!
I do feel sorry for the mom & pop local business that have failed. I will always give business to a local biz instead of a franchise. In my 12 years in the neighborhood I’ve seen a definite increase in new small strip malls along Forest Hill Ave, and always thought 1) too many small businesses/chains in our area and 2) national franchises overextending themselves. So now we see the results of the marketplace ‘discipling itself’. I still see lots and lots of people eating out and the local shopping areas seem pretty busy, but we just had too many businesses pop up in recent years – too many to be sustained.
I am really glad that Stories has their store on Forest Hill.
Scott & Richard,
O’Tooles is now carrying the Setanta network so now we don’t have to travel to smokey Penny Lane to catch a game of soccer or rugby or hurling. Hopefully, they will have extended hours during WC2010. Cheers!
Thanks for the info JD. If you don’t like the smoke of Penny Lane head over to Gus’ Bar and Grille right across from the Children’s Muesem it use to be Out of Bounds it is non-smoking. The new owner is a big soccer supporter I have been there for a few DCU games and the heartbreaker that was US vs Brazil. For the US vs Brasil we had a full house, so word is getting out.
Oy! O’tooles has satellite soccer now? Let’s gang up and get them to show the DC United games! I love Penny Lane but yeah, it’s way too smoky for me in there. I love being able to walk to and from the neighborhood pub.
Good idea Cait. The bartender needs training on the importance of soccer, though. He was happy to switch it over to the US vs Honduras Gold Cup game on Wednesday. However about halfway through he switched to a rebroadcast of a Nationals game. When I asked him about it he said, “Sorry I forgot you were watching that since you weren’t at the bar.” To his complete credit he did get it back on a TV for me.
[...] new stores will be open on Sunday and bring more foot traffic. The shopping center has quite a few empty store fronts and maybe the change will spur some regrowth. Posted by Richard.H at 8:56AM under development | [...]