North Capitol Main Street, Inc. ---It's Bloggin' Time!

Saturday, March 20th...2010 SunTrust Marathon and Bloomingdale morning Festival

2010-03-12T13:34:00.000-08:00

Message from Greater Washington Sports Alliance Director of Community Relations, Mrs. Diane Romo Thomas:

The 5th Annual National Marathon scheduled to run on Saturday, March 20th! We will be running down the southbound side of North Capitol Street, and are hosting a Community Festival at North Capitol and R Streets, NW with Community Marathon Shirts given away, noise makers and signs.

The street closure for North Capitol is 7:30am to 9:15am thru Florida Avenue and down to K Street, NE.

Community Festivals

Join your neighbors for morning coffee, bagels & live music on March 20, 2010 and help cheer on all the runners of the Marathon, Half Marathon, & Team Relay.

We will be giving out free t-shirts to the first 200 spectators who visit any of our six Community Spirit Festival locations listed below that are spread all throughout the course.

Any of these locations are great places where you can welcome over 12,000 runners to your neighborhood:

******North Capitol Street @ R Street, NW ---7:30AM to 9:30AM
(Bloomingdale)

Dupont Circle
(SunTrust Branch)

Adams Morgan
(SunTrust Pavilion, 18th & Columbia Road, NW)

Bison Bend
(Howard University - 5th and Harvard Streets NW)

Randle Circle
(Minnesota Avenue, N.E.)

Anacostia Park
(Anacostia Drive SE & Nicholson Street SE )

WEB LINKS For More Info:
http://www.nationalmarathon.com/

http://www.nationalmarathon.com/SunTrust_National_Marathon/Race_Information.htm

Winter Blues 2010 February 15 days away...

2010-02-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

Got a case of the Winter Blues? Come out on February 27, 2010 for the remedy!

Only 14 Days to the North Capitol Main Street - Winter Blues Party and Silent Auction -- Get Tickets here: www.ncmsinc.org

Come out and support your local community and commercial development in our neighborhood! Support local businesses! Buy your tickets now and bid on great items such as a original print from local real estate executive and Bloomingdale resident Suzanne Des Marais an original art work piece that depicts the stunning architecture and splendor of our neighborhood.

Cure your winter blues! Buy tickets now by visiting www.ncmsinc.org

A Call for Auction Items - 2010 Winter Blues is Back!

2010-01-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

A Call for Auction Items

North Capitol Main Street is proud to present our 2010 Winter Blues Fundraiser and Silent Auction on February 27, 2010, the Silent Auction will benefit programs to revitalize and support commercial businesses along the North Capitol Street corridor and along First Street NW. North Capital Main Street needs your donations to help make the Winter Blues Silent Auction and Fundraiser a success! Donating to the Winter Blues Silent Auction is a great way to support the programs and activities of North Capital Main Street and assist the organization with its mission of commercial revitalization in our neighborhoods in which we serve.

PLUS, both item donors and winning bidders will have their names entered into a drawing for a FREE prize to be given away one week following the Winter Blues Fundraiser.

Recognition!

For your donation, you will receive:

Acknowledgement on the auction bid sheets
Listing of your donation and name on the NCMS website
Listing in the Silent Auction Catalog, distributed to every attendee (if confirmed by the print date)

To Make A Donation

Please complete the Silent Auction Donation Form and fax or mail it to NCMS Executive Office at (202) 269-0014 or via mail at 1703 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002.

Getting Your Item to the Auction

Please send your item(s) to the NCMS Executive offices as soon as possible or no later than February 15, 2010, along with a copy of the donation form. We will photograph your item and list your name in our Silent Auction Catalog.

Please contact Garry Clark at the North Capitol Main Street offices during business hours at (202) 905-6039 or gclark@ncmsinc.org.

NCMS Cornerstore Repositioning -Technical Assistance

2009-12-17T10:52:00.000-08:00

NCMS conducted the first in a series of four “Cornerstore Repositioning” Technical Assistance Projects with Windows Café & Market and D.C. Mini Market, both businesses in Bloomingdale neighborhood along the first street business corridor.
The purpose of the project is to analyze and provide solutions to better merchandizing and product display for the businesses. With the assistance of a nationally recognized consultant, Scot Day of Urban Development Services, www.urbandevelopmentservices.com, NCMS began the project by conducting a Needs Assessment of the businesses and evaluation of what could be done to improving the customer buying experience through improved product placement and merchandizing.
The attached photos reveal the project in the first stages of the evaluation process. The ultimate goal is to boost sales and increase profits for neighborhood-serving local businesses within the NCMS service area.

Here's a small sample of the project services, both short and long term recommendations, provided by Scott Day of Urban Development services:

D.C. Mini Market
1828 1st. Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20001

Short/Long term recommendations
• Remove/minimize in-store signs
• Rearrange end-caps
• Consolidate soda into one area.
• Put extra stock in the basement
• Purchase a marking gun. Add a price tag w/date code, dept code, and price to each item in the store
• Replace floor w/new vinyl floor overlay
• Front all shelving (Completed in part 12/16/09)

Windows Cafe and Market
101 Rhode Island Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20001
Short/Long sample options
• Front all shelves (Completed in part 12/16/09)
• Organize merchandise more by category or type (Completed in part 12/16/2009)
• Organize wines by type or by country. Make sure that shelf labels reflect items that are actually being sold
• Replace floor tiles where subfloor shows through. Clean & seal floors

• Clean and seal floors

The final step of the Project is to actually assist the store owners in implementing suggested recommendations and improvements. NCMS is looking for volunteers in the final stages of the projects – to be conducted over the coming months. Stay tuned. If you are interested in helping NCMS as a volunteer in this project you'd simply like to make a small donation to our cause...please contact:

Garry Clark Executive Director North Capitol Main Street, Inc. 1703 North Capitol Street NE Washington, D.C. 20002 P - 202-905-6039 F - 202-269-0014 E - gclark@ncmsinc.org Website - www.ncmsinc.org

Photos from the NCMS Clean and Safe Sentinels Launch today! 11-24-09

2009-11-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

In picture: Clean Team Sentinels, Business Owners - Saeed Momenian (City Gear), and Mr. Hunegnaw Abeje (Windows Cafe and Market, NCMS President Mrs. Patricia Ellis Mitchell, Capitol Hill BID President Ms.Patty Brosmer, NCMS Executive Director Garry Clark, and Ready, Willing, and Working Manager of Operations - Andrew Lee.

Recap NCMS Fall "Happy Hour" Fundraiser

2009-11-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your support of our 2009 Fall Fundraising event, “Happy Hour at the Gage School.” The event held on Thursday October 22, 2009 was a huge success! Attendance was admirable with a group of 45 people. Local Business Owners’ Willie Barnes of The Flea Market Store and Hunegnaw Abeje from Windows Cafe and Market and many other community advocates were in attendance. Best of all, the event offered a great “Meet and Greet” opportunity for interested local residents in support of local business.

Through your generosity, North Capitol Main Street, Inc. (NCMS) will be able to continue our founding purpose to serve as a catalyst for neighborhood commercial revitalization. As a recently designated 501C(3) D.C. Main Street Organization (Department of Small and Local Business sponsors), and volunteer-driven organization, corporate support and private donations are essential to our programmatic success.

Our fall and winter plate is full. We are in the process of finalizing two significant projects that your donation helps sustain. Our Clean Team will begin to service the NCMS, Inc. corridor within the next few weeks. This service will include, tree box maintenance, trash pick, planting and landscape improvements on a weekly basis. Second, our NCMS, Inc. Storefront Improvement Pilot project will be underway in a matter of weeks also. This program will award the following businesses with exterior façade improvement free of charge: Jam Doung Style Jamaican Cuisine, Chinese Dragon Carryout, Yeung Fong Carryout, and Bloomingdale Wine and Spirits.

Each business will receive paint, signage, and glass replacement as needed. NCMS, Inc. is also working to complete a technical assistance program that will provide merchandise repositioning, tile replacement, and more for two select businesses: DC Mini Market and Windows Café and Market.

We welcome your visit to any of our new and old unique neighborhood businesses and thank you again for your support. Please contact me if you are interested in volunteering or joining the NCMS organization. Any donations to continue our efforts can be sent to:

North Capitol Main Street, Inc.
1703 North Capitol Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20002

Thank You,

Garry Clark
NCMS Executive Director
202-905-6039
gclark@ncmsinc.org

North Capitol Main Street Organization Committee Meeting

2009-11-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

North Capitol Main Street Organization Committee Meeting
When: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2009, 6:30PM-7:30PM
Location: 1703 North Capitol Street N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002

Calling all Volunteers! All hands on deck!

Volunteers needed for the following: WINTER BLUES BASH AND SILENT AUCTION PLANNING
* Winter Blues Chair/Co-Chair
* Securing Corporate Support
* Silent Auction Planning/Implementation
o Site Logistics — Planning/Implementation
o Party Theme
o Set Decoration
o Public Relations Campaign
o Advertising Campaign
o Graphics Design
o Invitation Design
o Advertising/Copy writing
* Volunteer Recruitment

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE…COME OUT AND JOIN US!

North Capitol Main Street, Inc.
Garry Clark
Executive Director
P: 202- 905- 6039
E:gclark @ ncmsinc.org

Business Spotlight: JAK Co. Beauty Salon...A Legacy of Family.

2009-08-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

At 112 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, sits a salon that has been in existence since 1988. Its owner, William H. Jackson, recently passed away, buts its legacy and tradition will continue in the hands of Mr. Jackson’s family.

Jak & Co. Beauty Salon is named after its late owner. Mr. Jackson opened his salon at this location after having a very successful run with another. He had established The House that Jack Built on the corner of 12th and F Street, NW in downtown Washington D.C. in 1964, and it stayed open for business until 1988. He personally trained twelve hairdressers and stylists, and watched over a staff of fifteen.

The salon was a great achievement, and Mr. Jackson continued his success with the opening of Jak & Co. Beauty Salon. Here, he trained fifteen hairdressers and stylists, and watched over fifteen staff members.

In 1980, Mr. Jackson was the first African-American man to be appointed to the D.C. Board of Cosmetology, and completed a three-year term in 1983.

It is easy to feel the family atmosphere and the love that went into establishing Jak and Co. Beauty Salon as soon as one walks in the door. The staff, while not all blood-related, certainly feel like a family, and the clients feel right at home too.

Mr. Jackson’s daughters plan to continue their father’s business. When asked what they would do with the salon, they answered without hesitation. They are determined to continue their father’s legacy, and keep the “family”, that he so lovingly established, together.

Written by Erin Blankenship (University of Alabama/NCMS Intern July 2009)

NCMS First on 1st Art + Music Walk Recap

2009-08-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

The NCMS, Inc. First on 1st Art + Music Walk was a tremendous success on Saturday, August 1st. Although, this was the first ever Art +Music Walk in the Bloomingdale neighborhood history, it attracted approximately 300 local Bloomingdale/Eckington and Truxton Circle residents, as well as visitors from outside the local neighborhood. The event included live music and comedy at both Window’s Café at 1st and Rhode Island Avenue and Big Bear Café at 1st and R Street. Visitors came out between the hours of Noon and 5PM Saturday and received art tour maps provided by The Pink Line Project. The maps included a directory of businesses in the NCMS corridor and an art hunt (scavenger hunt) in which participants located answers to questions pertaining to the local businesses and displayed art on 1st Street, which started at 87 Florida Avenue and concluded at Window’s Cafe. Upon completing the hunt, participants received a free drink from either Big Bear Café or Window’s Café. Also, visitors participated in a wine tasting event at Bloomingdale Wine and Spirits on 1st and Rhode Island Avenue.

Overall, the First on 1st Art + Music Walk made history and excited the local community. The event confirmed that the Bloomingdale/Eckington and Truxton Circle community would love to see more events geared towards art and music. Lana Labermeier, the owner of Big Bear Cafe was quoted after the event, “This was our best day ever. Thanks to North Capitol Main Street”. Window’s Café storeowner Mr. Abeje commented, “We need to have more events like this to show people how beautiful our community is…this was my best day, sales and traffic-wise”. A local resident best described the event by stating, “I wasn't expecting so much! It is so good to see so much positive activity on our own sidewalks, and hearing about the progress NCMS is making and planning.”

This event was funded by the Department of Small and Local Business and Development, DC Main Streets, and FedEx/Kinko. Check out the NCMS website www.ncmsinc.org and blog www.ncmsinc.blogspot.com for the latest projects and commercial events.

*Breaking News in the NCMS Neighborhood Commercial Business

2009-08-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Breaking News in the NCMS Neighborhood Commercial Business Corridor...

Y.E.S.S.S. (Your Educational Supplies, Systems and Services)
GRAND OPENING RECEPTION: Your Partner in Education

Date:
Sunday, August 09, 2009 from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM (ET)
Location:
Y.E.S.S.S. Store
108 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Message from the owner Mrs. Octavia Jackson:

Come celebrate with us as we open the doors to our brand new store in the District of Columbia. Y.E.S.S.S. (Your Educational Supplies, Systems and Services) strives to be a partner in education by providing uniforms, supplies and services that will help our children thrive in school. By catering to the academic community in offering affordable, high-quality school supplies and uniforms; consulting for information technology systems; and related services, we strive to become the preeminent provider of educational resources that our students need to be successful.

We will serve light refreshments at our outdoor reception, and look forward to giving you a tour of our newly renovated store. Please RSVP by August 8 so that we can get an accurate head count for the reception.

Owner: Octavia Taylor-Jackson
Office: 202-832-7275
Email: octavia@theyesss.com
Web: www.theyesss.com