March 2009 Archives

....it's a state of mind.

Nestled in Westchester County, New York is the village of Pleasantville. A rather affluent community of less than 10,000 year-round residents on the outskirts of Manhattan, Pleasantville is the original home of Reader's Digest and many a literati past and present. With its rich literary history, it is no less a most pleasant (sorry, couldn't resist) surprise to find a small independent bookstore bustling with customers on a Saturday afternoon.  The Village Bookstore of Pleasantville couldn't be more than 500 square feet, yet feels more complete than any superstore with its carefully handpicked selection of titles, including generous sections of children's books, historical tomes and literary fiction.  In business for over 14 years, owners Yvonne and Roy have built a loyal customer base with their frequent buyer's program, event schedule and great customer service.  Needless-to-say, I did not leave empty handed and was overjoyed at seeing a parent with her young children purchasing a literal stack of books that the kids couldn't wait to dive into.

Just across the street, a new cupcake bakery was celebrating its grand opening while down the street the Dragonfly Cafe was serving up lattes, hot tea and pastries at a swift pace.  With only one "for lease" sign visible among the many storefronts,  Pleasantville is a model of small town living.

New England's Now & Then

While still reeling from the closure of Yutzler's, I stumbled across Main Street (yes, it really is named Main Street) and ventured into The Wish House. Located next to the old Freddy Bates Meat Market (stand alone butcher shops being another casualty of the large grocery chains), The Wish House is a virtual replica of Takoma Park's own Now & Then right down to its multi-colored walls, eclectic mix of children's and adult clothing, accessories, art and home decor.  www.wishhouse.com

 

....are now nothing but.

Summers spent in West Cornwall, Connecticut with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins meant daily trips to Yutzler's Dry Goods store. Being from Southern California, my sister and I were somewhat of a novelty when we visited and as such, received an extra bit of attention which we reveled in. While original owners Fred, Carl and Dutch Yutzler sold the store many years ago, I was unaware of its fate until a recent visit and needless-to-say, I was crushed. The later owners did their best, adding a cafe and ice cream shop for the summer tourist trade, but it was not enough to offset the slow Winter season and encroachment of large grocery stores in the neighboring towns. 

A local shopkeeper told me that a young couple have purchased the property and will turn it into a private art studio. So, there will be new life..... and for someone else, new memories.

Thinking Outside the Box

More often than not, life is what happens when you get off the highways and leisurely drive through the small towns as you make your way across the country.

As we drove through Neffsville, Pennsylvania today we saw, next to a self-service car wash, a sign for a "self-serve dog wash". 

Seriously.

Main Street, U. S. A.

The Bee thought a little junket was in order and so has taken flight for points elsewhere. Along the way, the Bee will no doubt be buzzing over main streets large and small and will offer a bird's eye, or rather bee's eye, view of small town living.

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The town of Webster, Massachusetts is the first stop on our excursion. Similar in size to Takoma Park, Webster is a stones throw from the Connecticut state line and about an hour outside of Boston (depending on who's driving). It is a mixed bag of hope and despair with an equal number of "open" and "for lease" signs dotting the landscape on their literally named Main Street. You know times are bad when the bail bondsman, directly across the street from the courthouse, has a for lease sign in their window. And yet, there is an independent bookstore and cafe (www.bookloversgourmet.com) that appears to be thriving.

After a rough start, Isabella's Restaurant also seems to be holding its own. Closing after its first year, Isabella's reopened with a revamped menu, new look and new location on Main Street. So far, their perseverance, not to mention an unusual marketing strategy, is paying off. Perusing the menu, we immediately notice that the prices all end in 93 cents. Smugly guessing this is the year they opened, our waitress gently corrects me and tells us that it is in fact part of their street address (593 S. Main Street) and the restaurants way of reinforcing their location in customer's minds. It must be working. Much to our gastronomic chagrin, by 6pm the daily special of pot roast had already sold out.

An Evolving Landscape on Carroll Avenue

After a few unforeseen setbacks, everything looks to be in place for a late March/early April opening of Pizza Roma at the Junction (see Voice article, May 2008) http://www.takoma.com/archives/copy/2008/05/takpdfs_may08.html

While the recent closing of TJ's Market at the corner of Grant and Carroll Avenues has left a vacancy at the Junction, the advent of Pizza Roma along with the weekday operation of The Organic Falafel Stand is a good omen for a potential increase of foot traffic in what is often an overlooked corner of Takoma Park.

Pizza Roma ~ 7322 Carroll Avenue ~ Takoma Park, MD 20912 ~ 301-412-4670

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A Junction staple, the Takoma Park Animal Clinic boasts a new website and remodeled waiting area that now offers a small, but finicky selection of food and service products for the furry member of your family.

Takoma Park Animal Clinic ~ 7330 Carroll Avenue ~ 301-270-4700 ~ www.tpacvets.com

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The Shampoo, on the corner of Carroll and Westmoreland Avenues, has expanded their hours to now include Sundays during the hours of the Farmer's Market from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Shampoo ~ 7009 Carroll Avenue ~ Takoma Park, MD  20912 ~ 301-270-3551

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Rerun?  Don't ask, don't tell, don't know.

Big Doings Going on at the Woof

Four years after opening The Big Bad Woof in Takoma, D.C., owners Pennye Jones-Napier and Julie Paez have formed a new corporation - BBWoof, Inc.  This month, they formally filed with the Federal Trade Commission to begin franchising in the Metropolitan DC area (Maryland and Virginia are also in the works).

There will be two meetings this month to discuss expansion plans.  These meetings are open to anyone interested in being a part of the Woof's growth, including opportunities to own part of BBWoof, Inc. to franchising opportunities.

~Saturday, March 21st from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm

~Tuesday, March 31st from 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Landis Building
7059 Blair Road, NW
Washington, DC

RSVP to 202-747-3434 (leave a message) or inquiries@bbwoffinc.com

 

"Good-night! good-night! as we so oft have said
Beneath this roof at midnight, in the days
That are no more, and shall no more return.
Thou hast but taken up thy lamp and gone to bed;
I stay a little longer, as one stays
To cover up the embers that still burn."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

As American Craft goes quietly into that sweet goodnight, the light will remain on until the end of March as owner Kathy Brooks and fellow photographer Michelle Avant host a gallery showing of their work:

 

If national chains are falling like a house of cards, what chance do we have?

 

There can be no doubt - all of us, residents and merchants alike, are hurting.  An independent store, like a school, church, farmer's market or playground, is but one thread in the fabric of our community.  They need your business to survive, let alone thrive.  Your day-to-day patronage, however big or small, is vital. Otherwise this will indeed be our future.