Comments on: As Business Closes, Owner Looks Back at Decades on H Street http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/ Race, Class, The District. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 03:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Was http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-840 Was Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:50:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-840 how do you know he thinks he's "owed more than market rate?" Maybe he's just holding out because he can. that's his business. just because he may not be willing to update his store or change with the market doesn't mean he has the sense of entitlement you seem to be suggesting. how do you know he thinks he’s “owed more than market rate?” Maybe he’s just holding out because he can. that’s his business. just because he may not be willing to update his store or change with the market doesn’t mean he has the sense of entitlement you seem to be suggesting.

]]> By: 13 & H http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-839 13 & H Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:24:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-839 Not only all of that... but I understand that he's been offered loads of cash for his building and is refusing to sell for a reasonable number as he thinks that he's owed more than market rate.  Just because, I suppose.  Word is that he's turned down several offers-- one from Ben's Chili Bowl.  He's no victim.  Adapt your merchandise and curtomers will be there.   You don't see a lot of stores selling Ataris anymore. Not only all of that… but I understand that he’s been offered loads of cash for his building and is refusing to sell for a reasonable number as he thinks that he’s owed more than market rate.  Just because, I suppose.  Word is that he’s turned down several offers– one from Ben’s Chili Bowl. 

He’s no victim.  Adapt your merchandise and curtomers will be there.   You don’t see a lot of stores selling Ataris anymore.

]]> By: Was http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-832 Was Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:02:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-832 my take? in business, you must adapt or die. or retire. the guy had a great run. 73 and still working in the same industry after 50 years? impressive. but looking at the photos reminds me of stores i shopped at in the 1970's. that means he never updated the look of his store, unless he's going for a retro thing. and who knows, maybe if he could hold out till he's 80's that might be the thing.  but he's not going to live forever, and sitting on a possible 1.4million plus presumed profits sounds great to me.  i also question the validity of a retail business that can't afford his taxes, but this article doesn't mention what the taxes are.  i do agree that property taxes in general are too high. and yes, that is somewhat a result of gentrification. but "victim"? hardly. it's allowing him to retire of he sells.  it is a great warning to all those that go into business for themselves.  my take? in business, you must adapt or die. or retire. the guy had a great run. 73 and still working in the same industry after 50 years? impressive. but looking at the photos reminds me of stores i shopped at in the 1970′s. that means he never updated the look of his store, unless he’s going for a retro thing. and who knows, maybe if he could hold out till he’s 80′s that might be the thing. 
but he’s not going to live forever, and sitting on a possible 1.4million plus presumed profits sounds great to me. 

i also question the validity of a retail business that can’t afford his taxes, but this article doesn’t mention what the taxes are. 

i do agree that property taxes in general are too high. and yes, that is somewhat a result of gentrification.

but “victim”? hardly. it’s allowing him to retire of he sells. 

it is a great warning to all those that go into business for themselves. 

]]> By: oboe http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-831 oboe Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:49:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-831 Mr Butler's clientele consists largely of aging african americans who have moved out of the city as they retired.  Rather than adapt to folks who now live in the neighborhood, he's decided to close up shop.  I grew up in an area of Rockville that has a large and growing Hispanic population.  Long-time businesses there have tailored their offerings to appeal to Hispanics as well as long-time residents.  If they didn't, they'd go out of business.  We certainly wouldn't say the shopkeepers had been "victimized." Mr Butler’s clientele consists largely of aging african americans who have moved out of the city as they retired.  Rather than adapt to folks who now live in the neighborhood, he’s decided to close up shop.  I grew up in an area of Rockville that has a large and growing Hispanic population.  Long-time businesses there have tailored their offerings to appeal to Hispanics as well as long-time residents.  If they didn’t, they’d go out of business.  We certainly wouldn’t say the shopkeepers had been “victimized.”

]]> By: oboe http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-830 oboe Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:41:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-830 How many suits you buy over the last 5 years, Pterim?  Don't be ridiculous. How many suits you buy over the last 5 years, Pterim?  Don’t be ridiculous.

]]> By: Anon http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-829 Anon Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:29:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-829 Isn't it amazing that when you begin writing a story with an agenda that all of the conclusions seem to support your agenda.  This man is no more a victim than local video store owners, small electronic stores, or blacksmiths were victims.  The market changed around them and they were unable to adapt.  That may sound contrite to some and I truly will miss some of the diversity that makes H St. different from most of the neighborhoods in DC, but it is unfair to turn the argument against change and progress and to hang the prospects of this store owner on those who are seeking a better life for their families by paying fair market for real estate in the area.  Unlike some of the store owners, who have a legitimate beef because they rented in the area and truly got "priced out", this gentleman seems to be well positioned to make a healthy sum of money by the "evident gentrification" that the author demonizes.  If he were so inclined he could take those profits and move his store to an market that would support it or in this case it sounds like he can just salt that away and enjoy his retirement.  I am considered a liberal by most of my friends but this story seems like an apologist screed against any change whatsoever lest it might upset the delicate balance of yesteryear. Isn’t it amazing that when you begin writing a story with an agenda that all of the conclusions seem to support your agenda.  This man is no more a victim than local video store owners, small electronic stores, or blacksmiths were victims.  The market changed around them and they were unable to adapt.  That may sound contrite to some and I truly will miss some of the diversity that makes H St. different from most of the neighborhoods in DC, but it is unfair to turn the argument against change and progress and to hang the prospects of this store owner on those who are seeking a better life for their families by paying fair market for real estate in the area.  Unlike some of the store owners, who have a legitimate beef because they rented in the area and truly got “priced out”, this gentleman seems to be well positioned to make a healthy sum of money by the “evident gentrification” that the author demonizes.  If he were so inclined he could take those profits and move his store to an market that would support it or in this case it sounds like he can just salt that away and enjoy his retirement.  I am considered a liberal by most of my friends but this story seems like an apologist screed against any change whatsoever lest it might upset the delicate balance of yesteryear.

]]> By: H St http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-828 H St Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:25:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-828 The construction on H Street was no simply the "streetcar construction." It was a complete DDOT streetscape remodeling with new sidewalks, lighting, furniture and and trees. (These streetscapes have happened all over the city although H Street is a very long corridor.)  The utilities also took the opportunity to do upgrades at the time which added to the time frame of the project.  That project had been planned since 2001.  The streetcar tracks were added  to this project much later in the planning period mostly to take advantage of the streets already being torn up rather than going back in to install them later. This also put H Street in the running to be the first line for the streetcar which if people recall was up for debate for a while.   I think journalists like to use the term "streetcar construction" a because  don't do their research but mainly because it is a trigger  for debate and a quick way to incite the tired old vs new, black vs white  story that does not present the reality of this neighborhood. Read Harry Jaffe's piece about the amazing Festival we just had down here. http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/09/h-street-resurrection-celebrated-festival The construction on H Street was no simply the “streetcar construction.” It was a complete DDOT streetscape remodeling with new sidewalks, lighting, furniture and and trees. (These streetscapes have happened all over the city although H Street is a very long corridor.)  The utilities also took the opportunity to do upgrades at the time which added to the time frame of the project. 

That project had been planned since 2001.  The streetcar tracks were added  to this project much later in the planning period mostly to take advantage of the streets already being torn up rather than going back in to install them later. This also put H Street in the running to be the first line for the streetcar which if people recall was up for debate for a while.   I think journalists like to use the term “streetcar construction” a because  don’t do their research but mainly because it is a trigger  for debate and a quick way to incite the tired old vs new, black vs white  story that does not present the reality of this neighborhood. Read Harry Jaffe’s piece about the amazing Festival we just had down here. http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/09/h-street-resurrection-celebrated-festival

]]> By: Christopher http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-827 Christopher Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:47:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-827 The City Paper ran an article on the declining fortunes of old-style H Street NE clothiers last October; but among several factors it cited one that isn't mentioned in this article at all:  whether there's less demand for the type of clothing they sell from the black community itself.  As one person interviewed put it, "people don't dress up like they used to." Worth reading: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39864/dc-h-street-shuffled-old-clothiers-on-the-re-invented The City Paper ran an article on the declining fortunes of old-style H Street NE clothiers last October; but among several factors it cited one that isn’t mentioned in this article at all:  whether there’s less demand for the type of clothing they sell from the black community itself.  As one person interviewed put it, “people don’t dress up like they used to.”

Worth reading:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39864/dc-h-street-shuffled-old-clothiers-on-the-re-invented

]]> By: LibrariNerd http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-826 LibrariNerd Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:39:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-826 I'm no expert on men's fashion, but the clothes displayed in his windows seemed to skew older. I'm don't think you'd see anyone under 50 - regardless of ethnicity - wearing those clothes. The stores that cater to a younger crowd seem to be doing OK, as far as I can tell. Still, it's sad to see it go - I always loved the dapper outfits he put together. I’m no expert on men’s fashion, but the clothes displayed in his windows seemed to skew older. I’m don’t think you’d see anyone under 50 – regardless of ethnicity – wearing those clothes. The stores that cater to a younger crowd seem to be doing OK, as far as I can tell. Still, it’s sad to see it go – I always loved the dapper outfits he put together.

]]> By: shark http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/09/as-longtime-business-closes-looking-back-at-decades-on-h-street/#comment-825 shark Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:31:00 +0000 http://dcentric.wamu.org/?p=10584#comment-825 Lots of" victims " would love to have a million dollars in their pockets after working 54 years. The man deserves his money but he isn't a victim. Lots of” victims ” would love to have a million dollars in their pockets after working 54 years. The man deserves his money but he isn’t a victim.

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