This recent article from the Business Journal shows local retailers around U Street and 14th Street casting a wary eye towards the potential arrival of Minneapolis-based furniture palace "Room and Board" to the new development heading towards completion at T and 14th streets.
The article raises several points related to the ongoing development and gentrification of the U Street/14th Street corridor. Chief among them: what type of retail do residents want, and what type of retail are we likely to get?
It's not surprising that with skyrocketing commercial lease rates and a decreasing number of options, that the 14th and U St. retail corridor would begin to attract a greater number of "chain stores". After all, conventional wisdom goes, once the local businesses have moved in and paved the way for commercial success, the rents go up and the only businesses left who can afford them are national retailers. it's not true in every sense, of course, but a quick gander around Dupont shows a relative lack of the independent stores for which the neighborhood used to be known.
But what is more valued: a vibrant business corridor, or vacant storefronts awaiting the local tenant who can afford its space?
Those are not always mutually exclusive options of course, but those of us who were less-than-thrilled at the prospects of yet another chain furniture store setting up shop on 14th street might also ask what price independent stores should be maintained, simply because they are independent.
Let me be the first to tell you: I've seen a lot of overpriced crap at independent retailers. And I've seen a lot of merchandise at local stores that I could purchase cheaper at a chain establishment (the quote in the article from the Urban Essentials owner is a good comparison).
While I think we can all agree that a diverse mix of retail is an important component of any vibrant commercial corridor, I think it's also easy to too quickly adopt the "chains bad, local stores good" mentality at the cost of filling retail space. I'm not necessarily excited by the potential arrival of Room and Board, but would I be any more excited by the prospect of a new Muleh or Circle Boutique filling the T Street space? I doubt it.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
More on t Street Development: What kind of retail do we want?
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8 comments:
I'm excited by Room and Board, and I think a lot of other people would be too (or more people, anyway) if the whole Tryst fiasco had not occurred. I think that is clouding everyone's judgment.
Yes... a Room and Board would be so great. I for one am completely excited.
for me, it's not that it's a chain furniture store. it's that it's a furniture store. go a few blocks south and you'll see one in every other storefront.
how about something DIFFERENT? i don't care if it's a chain, but something other than furniture would be awesome.
I agree with the sentiment regarding another furniture store but I have to believe if they come, they will generate a lot of traffic for all retailers. RB will be a huge draw for all.
Were the 14th Street corridor booming with vibrant retail, the arguments against R&B might make some sense. But, the reality is one can walk from N Street to U Street and pass one empty or under-utilized storefront after another. So, R&B is not going to prevent Tryst from opening a diner, or a new yoga studio, or anything else. What it will do is generate increased foot traffic in the area, which will drive the addition of new retail. Can anyone honestly say that having Whole Foods, Lululemon, Williams Gold, and other non-local stores has hurt this area? Let's get real folks -- we need the empty storefronts to be filled.
Another grocery store would be nice. I live next to Soviet Safeway and Whole Foods and find both to be somewhat lacking. Maybe a Trader Joe's?
A couple of reasonably priced casual restaurants would be nice too. Not all residents are happy paying $14 for a sandwich...
Room and Board will definitely bring more vibrancy to the neighborhood. They offer a surprising range of products and styles. Filling the unoccupied properties is a priority and they have the resources to fix up the location. Frankly, I don't want to see 14th Street become another Adams Morgan.
In addition to furniture, clothing, flower/plant shops, pet services, restaurants, clubs, bars, home accessories, theaters, galleries, postal service, dry cleaners, shoe repair, cafes, nail & hair services, grocery stores, pharmacies, offices, fast food, copy center, stereo equipment, banks, jazz, wine store, gyms, chocolate cafes, carpet, picture frames, ...
I'd like to see .... uh... gee, I can't think of anything else I wanna spend my paycheck on...
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