Is this enough?

In yesterday's editorial I pondered the District's hopes that the relocation of the Coast Guard HQ to the Saint Elizabeths West Campus would have a positive economic benefit to small businesses on MLK Avenue in Congress Heights. I had some doubts that a significant number of those 14,000+ Coast Guard employees would come come outside of the gates and engage the local small businesses for their food and shopping needs. Not because they were opposed to doing so, but because the current options on our main street are somewhat "limiting" to put it kindly. I highlighted my own limited engagement of Congress Heights businesses despite living in the neighborhood for six years. Judging from the comments to my post it seems I wasn't alone in taking my money (and my business) outside of Congress Heights.

One resident says of her Congress Heights shopping experience:

"I have lived in the 20032 zip code since 2004 and as of now the only places that I patronize is the dry cleaners on Albama, IHOP , Popeyes if I am STARVING and Giant when I need something last minute. I NEVER EVER go to any of the small stores on MLK. I used the gas station one time when I was on Empty and I was disgusted."

She was not alone, another commenter weighed in on the atmosphere of some of the shops and why they take their spending dollars elsewhere:

"I'm guilty of taking my money elsewhere as well. I purposefully don't patronage carryouts and corner stores because I want them to go away. Most of them tend to be shady establishments with shady business practices."

One resident points to issues with accessibility and options as deciding factors to why they are not patronizing Congress Heights businesses more often:

"I really like Mama's Kitchen and MLK Deli has some good food (I had their chicken salad sandwich and slice of cake), but they close early on weekdays and are closed ALL weekends (what?). Our Popeyes doesn't even sell the complete menu (cole slaw?), so if I ever want that I'll drive down to South Capitol and get it in P.G. County. I've not ventured into any of the other places in the over two years I've lived here for the same reasons other's have mentioned above."

Granted, these few comments can't reflect the opinion of everyone in Congress Heights and in Ward 8. They are but a small selection of opinions and experiences for those who shop in the discount stores, carryouts, and cell phone carries that line the corridor so I am asking,




What have your experience been with the small businesses on the Congress Heights portion of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE? What small businesses would you like to see stay and expand? What stores would you like to see close? What is your vision for Congress Heights main street? Is our commercial district just fine the way that it is now or is there room for improvement? If you think Congress Heights could use more retail or dining options what would you like to see? What is your opinion on the current state of the storefronts? Where are you doing the majority of your shopping right now?

I am really interested in hearing what you have to say, regardless of where you live. I think an honest dialogue of where Congress Heights is now can help residents, small businesses, property owners, developers and the DC government shape a more vibrant and economically diverse community for small businesses to thrive.