Many of us work jobs that keep us tied down until about 5 p.m., right?
It's not out of the ordinary — the typical corporate business day lasts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. So, it makes it difficult for those of us working the daylight hours to get any specialty shopping done. Walmart, Kroger, Farm & Fleet ... of course they are open. But, often I am looking for something more. Much of the time, that can be found in some of the local businesses in Morton.
The problem is, they are usually all closed by the time I get home from work. The only time I can get into some of the retail shops in Morton is on Saturday.
I came across this article online called reSTOREing DC — a publication that provides updates for businesses and consumers in the Washington, D.C., area. Click here to download the entire article.
Here is an excerpt:
Why hasn’t anyone ever written a song about DC at night? For years, Washington has been known as a 9 to 5 city, where many workers shuttle in for the daytime, but race out like Fred Flintstone when the final whistle blows.
On November 15, 2003, suspicions were confirmed. When Mayor Anthony Williams brought together 3,000 residents at the Citizen Summit to identify and discuss the District’s priorities, residents complained that their commercial district was merely a place of fast food, dry cleaning, and convenience stores with a minimal shopping experience. They were tired of seeing security grates rolled down as they headed home after work, with little opportunity to stop in to pick up a few things, socialize at a coffee shop, or meet a neighbor and discuss community events.
Responding to the Citizen Summit’s challenges, the District of Columbia, local organizations, businesses, and communities, are contributing to make exciting opportunities happen... at night.
Newly opened or renovated cultural centers like Gala Hispanic Theater in Columbia Heights, H Street Playhouse, Studio Theater at 14th and P and the spring opening of the Atlas Theater are already encouraging small businesses to stay open just a few more hours.
New destination restaurants like Café Belga on Barracks Row are banking on nearby businesses staying open late so that their customers will have a place to go while they are waiting for their table.
So, my question is ... would our local businesses benefit from opening later and closing later? Would that help any of these stores increase sales?
Just a thought.
