Yesterday the Atlas Performing Arts Center hosted the Mayor, Council Chair Kwame Brown and Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells as four H Street businesses were awarded grants intended to boost retail and day time traffic along the H Street Corridor. The area’s buzzy arts and entertainment district draws many people in the evenings but the daytime traffic is still sparse. The city recently announced a retail incentive grant to assist existing, hopefully new, businesses along the corridor.
Yesterday’s grantees were all existing businesses: Stan’s Inc, a men’s clothing store which has been operating at 822 H Street NE since 1978; Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill which has been offering yoga classes at 410 H Street NE since 2006; H Street Care and Wellness Center, a neighborhood pharmacy at 812 H Street NE and the C.A.T. Walk Boutique, a women’s clothing store at 1404 H Street NE.
When Kwame Brown addressed the audience he mentioned that he has practiced at the H Street Bikram studio. The first time he went he made a newbie mistake and wore sweats not realizing that Bikram is practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees. We were also told that both Jesse Jackson and Lady Gaga have both practiced at the studio (not at the same time). Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill owner Liz Glover then shared that Ms. Gaga eschews the usual teeny tiny made-for-Bikram togs and simply practices in her skivvies. The Chair and the Mayor everyone else found this juicy gossip delightful. And yet another reason why I love H Street.
The second application period just closed and next round of grantees should be announced in the coming months.
Jen DeMayo is Director of Community at the Atlas Performing Arts Center