News

article and photos by Julie Wiatt

Old Town Takoma is going through some changes.

People still mourn the loss of Chuck & Dave's Bookstore and Toystore, and miss the quality photo processing of Photo Output. Kidshop, a woodworking studio for children has also gone out of business.

Several stores have been replaced by businesses of the same type: Moon Shadow replaces Blue Moon, Two Sisters Gallery replaces Mission Gallery, and Bati Market replaces the Korean market on the same site, all on Carroll Avenue.

Photo Output went under, as have other photoprocessing places in the area, undermined by the digital camera industry and the economy. In its place is the State Farm Insurance Agency.

All these new entrepreneurs are women— coincidence or local economic trend? You decide.

Here's an introduction to the new owners:

State Farm Insurance

"I love the warm community feeling of Takoma Park, the feeling of a small town near a big city. I know there's a loyalty with the Takoma Park community and even Silver Spring as well, and I wanted to be a part of that," says Leslie Riehl, in answer to why she has opened her agency here.

"It's a cliché, but it does fit in with the State Farm motto: 'We live where you live. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.'"

Leslie is a Silver Spring native who lives with her husband Dan and his two children about three miles from her office. They've been in the 4th of July parade for several years, as part of the SS Homeowners Association, whose contingent featured motorcycles in previous years. Leslie enjoys riding her motorcycle, but is thinking of getting a lime green motorscooter for commuting to work so she won't have to wear all that leather.

"Business has been great; it's been fabulous. We've gotten a lot of support from Takoma Parkians, many who just stop by, who want to deal with someone in the neighborhood."

The first week Riehl's office was open, people from the Forum for Youth Investment stopped by. Their organization owns the Cady-Lee mansion on Eastern Avenue, and now, Riehl says, "We insure the Cady-Lee mansion."

"State Farm now is doing more than just insurance, we do financial services as well," says Leslie. Her staff includes Darrell Tucker and Yolanda Menjivar-Vasquez from El Salvador, who is the Spanish-speaker for the business.

Another presence in the office is Dixie, the dalmation who belongs to Travis Price, architect, whose office is upstairs. Dixie often stays in Riehl's office during the day.

Insurance is not only a neighborhood concept, but also a family affair for Leslie Riehl, who explains: "My Mom is a State Farm agent. My Dad is a State Farm agent too. About 16 years ago I was living in NY, not happy with what I was doing, and Mom offered that I could live with her and work for her while I figured out what I wanted to do. I'd always said no way would I get involved in the family business, but I found myself hooked. I've been very happy with it ever since."

State Farm Insurance, 7050 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park. Open Monday through Friday 8:30-5:30, Wednesday until 8, Saturday 9-1, evenings by appointment. 301-270-6070.

Eva Mashud and Evi Ogilvy are, you guessed it, two sisters who own an art gallery and framing store. They were born in Indonesia, but went their separate ways after high school. Eva went to Toronto, Canada, to study and work as a commercial designer, and Evi went to college in Holland.

"When we were younger we didn't get along; we fought all the time. But when we went away to college we talked all the time on the phone. And we realized out of the blue that we'd like to own a gallery together."

"We both travel a lot. We love to visit museums and galleries. And we wanted our independence. We didn't want to work for anyone else. We get that entrepreneurial spirit from our father."

"For both of us, our passion is fine arts, but we have not pursued it," says Eva.

"Not yet, says Evi, "I will next year. I think that next year I'm going to take painting classes. And we both want to learn interior decoration."

"My long-term goal is more like art dealership," says Eva. Eva went to framing school. Evi says, "I'm her apprentice."

Evi has lived here three years, Eva only two months. Eva says, "Now my husband and I live in Germantown. My sister lives with us, because I don't want her to be lonely."

Their tastes are eclectic. "We're specializing in framing family photos. We're finding our niche." Evi says, "We like every art. We travel all over the world. We like art that moves, is vibrant."

"Whatever provokes an emotion," says Eva. "I think as a gallery owner you should not limit yourself. We welcome local artists. We want the gallery to be lively, welcoming to all people."

Two Sisters Gallery and Framing, 7000-D Carroll Ave., Takoma Park, MD 301-270-2670.

Bati is a beautiful place in Southern Ethiopia. "There is a saying," says Bati Market owner Martha Haileselassie, "that all women are beautiful in Bati." It's a place she loves, so she named her convenience store after it.

The market is a convenience store with fresh coffee, snacks, basic food and utililty items, plus cinnamon bark, cloves, kik, (yellow split peas), misir (lentils), berbera (hot peppers), boula, kincha, beso and copies of the Ethiopian yellow pages.

Martha's sisters and other family members help out at the store. "It's a family business," she says.

They had plans to open an Ethiopian Restaurant, running the store while adapting the space in back as a kitchen, but an architectural consultation recently showed them the project was too costly to meet code. Martha says they are very disappointed, but hope they can find a restaurant space near by.

Bati Market, 7056 Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park, 301-270-8354. Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

"My heart's in the 40s. Here I find the connection to my past, my childhood," says Karen Leeman, the owner of Moon Shadow, a new antiques and collectible store in Old Town Takoma Park.

But Karen is not new to the space. For 4 1/2 years she rented the back room in the Blue Moon, before it closed earlier this year. Blue Moon owner Cindy Vanko hasn't gone, though—she still sells stained glass windows at the new store. (The use of "moon" in the two store names is coincidental; Karen has used "Moon Shadow" as a name for years, but the moon mural gracing the upper wall is still appropriate.)

Two other vendors who share the space are Carrie's Closet vintage clothing and Dave Silber, who sells antique pens.

"I've been interested in antiques forever, and buying and selling them since 1996," Karen says. Her previous job was a special education teacher, but she found herself spending her paycheck at Now & Then, Tallulah's, Kaz, and Takoma Park's other quirky shops. After she quit teaching, she devoted herself to the antiques business.

Karen's favorites are vintage jewelry, painted furniture, Quimper pottery, and oyster plates. Another passion is old paper of all kinds: old photos, calendars, ads, cheesecake, postcards. Just like with their previous owners, each piece in her collection has sentimental value to her.

"My Mom had many of these types of things. I think that's why I have this store, because it's a way of connecting and hanging on."

Moon Shadow, 7000-C Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park. 301-270-8775. Summer hours are irregular, but in September the store will be open every day. 11-7 Monday through Friday, 11-6 Saturday, 12-5 Sundays.