Downtown DC: Shopping and Entertainment Mecca

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That Macy's is a true landmark for the area, but they do no more business that the two at Fair Oaks Mall combined. Inside it's like every other Macy's, a damp, musty smell that you can never escape.

DC isn’t DC w a real downtown anymore.

Macy’s is just sad. I hadn’t been in one (to shop) for many years and went in recently looking for prom wear for my teen. It was so blah and uninspiring. Asked to order something online and was told it could not be delivered until after the prom (April 20) because it was being shipped from the manufacturer aka China. SMH

I mean, isn't this true of all Macy's thought? The department store as an institution has been on a long decline since before I was born. Especially with ECommerce, its days as an institution are numbered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That Macy's is a true landmark for the area, but they do no more business that the two at Fair Oaks Mall combined. Inside it's like every other Macy's, a damp, musty smell that you can never escape.

DC isn’t DC w a real downtown anymore.

Macy’s is just sad. I hadn’t been in one (to shop) for many years and went in recently looking for prom wear for my teen. It was so blah and uninspiring. Asked to order something online and was told it could not be delivered until after the prom (April 20) because it was being shipped from the manufacturer aka China. SMH

I mean, isn't this true of all Macy's thought? The department store as an institution has been on a long decline since before I was born. Especially with ECommerce, its days as an institution are numbered.

In Asia and Europe department stores are still a spectacle and draw in locals and tourists. La Samaritaine in Paris just reopened after a long renovation. It is spectacular. I wish we had more of that here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That Macy's is a true landmark for the area, but they do no more business that the two at Fair Oaks Mall combined. Inside it's like every other Macy's, a damp, musty smell that you can never escape.

DC isn’t DC w a real downtown anymore.

Macy’s is just sad. I hadn’t been in one (to shop) for many years and went in recently looking for prom wear for my teen. It was so blah and uninspiring. Asked to order something online and was told it could not be delivered until after the prom (April 20) because it was being shipped from the manufacturer aka China. SMH

I mean, isn't this true of all Macy's thought? The department store as an institution has been on a long decline since before I was born. Especially with ECommerce, its days as an institution are numbered.

In Asia and Europe department stores are still a spectacle and draw in locals and tourists. La Samaritaine in Paris just reopened after a long renovation. It is spectacular. I wish we had more of that here.

+1
European department stores are so awesome. It’s odd we donNt have that model here at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC needs to get crime under control for sure. But the trends this year are promising. One thing I know - DC’s crime rates could plummet for the next five years and the bitter suburbanites on this forum will still be talking trash about the city, because they really just don’t like cities.

+1, these people are vocal now in part because they so resented the last couple decades as crime came down and DC became a destination for a bunch of reasons (the baseball park, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, newly hit neighborhoods like the Wharf). They cheer the crime uptick because it allows them to feel superior for a minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That Macy's is a true landmark for the area, but they do no more business that the two at Fair Oaks Mall combined. Inside it's like every other Macy's, a damp, musty smell that you can never escape.

DC isn’t DC w a real downtown anymore.

Macy’s is just sad. I hadn’t been in one (to shop) for many years and went in recently looking for prom wear for my teen. It was so blah and uninspiring. Asked to order something online and was told it could not be delivered until after the prom (April 20) because it was being shipped from the manufacturer aka China. SMH

I mean, isn't this true of all Macy's thought? The department store as an institution has been on a long decline since before I was born. Especially with ECommerce, its days as an institution are numbered.

In Asia and Europe department stores are still a spectacle and draw in locals and tourists. La Samaritaine in Paris just reopened after a long renovation. It is spectacular. I wish we had more of that here.

+1
European department stores are so awesome. It’s odd we donNt have that model here at all.

+1. I just don't get it. People will come out if you give them something to come out for! Our stores suck. I don't want to go into them and I love shopping in stores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This morning's Washington Post has a nice article on the thriving upscale shopping district downtown that's doing more business post-pandemic than pre. Near City Center, the flagship Apple Store and a flagship Macys bookend the shopping district.

Not far away the National Theatre, Warner Theatre, and Ford's Theatre round out the bustling theater scene. And now with the reinvestment by Monumental in the downtown arena, the sports entertainment scene will thrive for decades to come.

The FBI site redevelopment should bring in even more retail, entertainment and food options worthy of a world class city. And the bloop (blue line loop), an innovative K Street Transitway, and all the office to residential conversions in the pipeline will further strengthen the downtown customer base.

So much for all the doomsayers.

The "nice article" mentions the Peruvian Collection store in 10th and F Street as a signal of downtown business revival. That store closed weeks ago because of all the problems Downtown DC has: low people traffic, crime, mentally unstable people wandering around downtown, etc. What a joke of journalism1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This morning's Washington Post has a nice article on the thriving upscale shopping district downtown that's doing more business post-pandemic than pre. Near City Center, the flagship Apple Store and a flagship Macys bookend the shopping district.

Not far away the National Theatre, Warner Theatre, and Ford's Theatre round out the bustling theater scene. And now with the reinvestment by Monumental in the downtown arena, the sports entertainment scene will thrive for decades to come.

The FBI site redevelopment should bring in even more retail, entertainment and food options worthy of a world class city. And the bloop (blue line loop), an innovative K Street Transitway, and all the office to residential conversions in the pipeline will further strengthen the downtown customer base.

So much for all the doomsayers.

The "nice article" mentions the Peruvian Collection store in 10th and F Street as a signal of downtown business revival. That store closed weeks ago because of all the problems Downtown DC has: low people traffic, crime, mentally unstable people wandering around downtown, etc. What a joke of journalism1

In reality, the article is mostly talking about the self-contained high end shopping enclave City Center, which does have its own private security. That shops in that portion of downtown have been making boatloads of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This morning's Washington Post has a nice article on the thriving upscale shopping district downtown that's doing more business post-pandemic than pre. Near City Center, the flagship Apple Store and a flagship Macys bookend the shopping district.

Not far away the National Theatre, Warner Theatre, and Ford's Theatre round out the bustling theater scene. And now with the reinvestment by Monumental in the downtown arena, the sports entertainment scene will thrive for decades to come.

The FBI site redevelopment should bring in even more retail, entertainment and food options worthy of a world class city. And the bloop (blue line loop), an innovative K Street Transitway, and all the office to residential conversions in the pipeline will further strengthen the downtown customer base.

So much for all the doomsayers.

The "nice article" mentions the Peruvian Collection store in 10th and F Street as a signal of downtown business revival. That store closed weeks ago because of all the problems Downtown DC has: low people traffic, crime, mentally unstable people wandering around downtown, etc. What a joke of journalism1

That store was always empty because they have horrible looking clothes. It outlived its usefulness. Their demographic no longer shops downtown. They shop at the old lady stores in Montgomery Mall. The other stores in the block are thriving - Zara, Sephora, Express, Lululemon, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This morning's Washington Post has a nice article on the thriving upscale shopping district downtown that's doing more business post-pandemic than pre. Near City Center, the flagship Apple Store and a flagship Macys bookend the shopping district.

Not far away the National Theatre, Warner Theatre, and Ford's Theatre round out the bustling theater scene. And now with the reinvestment by Monumental in the downtown arena, the sports entertainment scene will thrive for decades to come.

The FBI site redevelopment should bring in even more retail, entertainment and food options worthy of a world class city. And the bloop (blue line loop), an innovative K Street Transitway, and all the office to residential conversions in the pipeline will further strengthen the downtown customer base.

So much for all the doomsayers.

The "nice article" mentions the Peruvian Collection store in 10th and F Street as a signal of downtown business revival. That store closed weeks ago because of all the problems Downtown DC has: low people traffic, crime, mentally unstable people wandering around downtown, etc. What a joke of journalism1

That store was always empty because they have horrible looking clothes. It outlived its usefulness. Their demographic no longer shops downtown. They shop at the old lady stores in Montgomery Mall. The other stores in the block are thriving - Zara, Sephora, Express, Lululemon, etc.

That must be why there is no J Jill downtown. Our honored citizens typically don’t shop for their outfits downtown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't discount the doomsayers. I just met a business owner in LA looking to expand a popular non-chain tea/coffee shop in the DC area. He said he was advised to open up in Tysons because DC doesn't have anyone downtown and has steadily increasing crime. Basically other cities are turning around while DC remains an outlier.

I don’t know who is advising him. But Tyson’s is bland. It has more urban amenities now but it’s still bland. Blue Bottle has only opened its trendy specialty coffee shops in and around downtown DC. It is doing robust business and recently reopened the cafe off of K Street near Franklin Park.

I think DC finally woke up to reality when it looked like Monumental/Caps/Wizards was going to leave for Va. The downtown outlook is wildly different than just a month ago.

And (to reply to a PPP) of course the downtown retail shops have had to lock their doors, otherwise it would be utter chaos, both for the shoppers and employees. At least they are doing great business which is good news.

There are two different types of people who enjoy city versus suburban shopping. I've always hated everything about the city experience. In DC the parking is terrible, stores are okay but nothing to write home about, the restaurants are usually overpriced and underdeliver, traffic is horrible and getting catcalled walking to my car is annoying and sometimes scary depending on the level of aggression. Id rather deal with 'bland' Tysons. There are enough people in this area for everyone to find what they like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This morning's Washington Post has a nice article on the thriving upscale shopping district downtown that's doing more business post-pandemic than pre. Near City Center, the flagship Apple Store and a flagship Macys bookend the shopping district.

Not far away the National Theatre, Warner Theatre, and Ford's Theatre round out the bustling theater scene. And now with the reinvestment by Monumental in the downtown arena, the sports entertainment scene will thrive for decades to come.

The FBI site redevelopment should bring in even more retail, entertainment and food options worthy of a world class city. And the bloop (blue line loop), an innovative K Street Transitway, and all the office to residential conversions in the pipeline will further strengthen the downtown customer base.

So much for all the doomsayers.

The "nice article" mentions the Peruvian Collection store in 10th and F Street as a signal of downtown business revival. That store closed weeks ago because of all the problems Downtown DC has: low people traffic, crime, mentally unstable people wandering around downtown, etc. What a joke of journalism1

That store was always empty because they have horrible looking clothes. It outlived its usefulness. Their demographic no longer shops downtown. They shop at the old lady stores in Montgomery Mall. The other stores in the block are thriving - Zara, Sephora, Express, Lululemon, etc.

That must be why there is no J Jill downtown. Our honored citizens typically don’t shop for their outfits downtown.

Hipper ones do. I shop at Zara and City Center equally. I would not be caught dead in a J Jill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't discount the doomsayers. I just met a business owner in LA looking to expand a popular non-chain tea/coffee shop in the DC area. He said he was advised to open up in Tysons because DC doesn't have anyone downtown and has steadily increasing crime. Basically other cities are turning around while DC remains an outlier.

I don’t know who is advising him. But Tyson’s is bland. It has more urban amenities now but it’s still bland. Blue Bottle has only opened its trendy specialty coffee shops in and around downtown DC. It is doing robust business and recently reopened the cafe off of K Street near Franklin Park.

I think DC finally woke up to reality when it looked like Monumental/Caps/Wizards was going to leave for Va. The downtown outlook is wildly different than just a month ago.

And (to reply to a PPP) of course the downtown retail shops have had to lock their doors, otherwise it would be utter chaos, both for the shoppers and employees. At least they are doing great business which is good news.

There are two different types of people who enjoy city versus suburban shopping. I've always hated everything about the city experience. In DC the parking is terrible, stores are okay but nothing to write home about, the restaurants are usually overpriced and underdeliver, traffic is horrible and getting catcalled walking to my car is annoying and sometimes scary depending on the level of aggression. Id rather deal with 'bland' Tysons. There are enough people in this area for everyone to find what they like.

Different strokes for different folks. I'd rather die than spend time at Tyson's. I love the people and energy of a city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That Macy's is a true landmark for the area, but they do no more business that the two at Fair Oaks Mall combined. Inside it's like every other Macy's, a damp, musty smell that you can never escape.

DC isn’t DC w a real downtown anymore.

Macy’s is just sad. I hadn’t been in one (to shop) for many years and went in recently looking for prom wear for my teen. It was so blah and uninspiring. Asked to order something online and was told it could not be delivered until after the prom (April 20) because it was being shipped from the manufacturer aka China. SMH

I mean, isn't this true of all Macy's thought? The department store as an institution has been on a long decline since before I was born. Especially with ECommerce, its days as an institution are numbered.

In Asia and Europe department stores are still a spectacle and draw in locals and tourists. La Samaritaine in Paris just reopened after a long renovation. It is spectacular. I wish we had more of that here.

+1
European department stores are so awesome. It’s odd we donNt have that model here at all.

They also cost 30-50% more than in the US.

[Anonymous]

The crime is diminishing, so shopping will be great