A new retail space for Black entrepreneurs just opened in Congress Heights

On Wednesday, a brand-new retail facility for local entrepreneurs and small business owners officially opens in Southeast DC.

The Retail Village at Sycamore & Oak, which launched Wednesday via a ribbon cutting from Mayor Muriel Bowser, contains space for 13 local Black entrepreneurs in Congress Heights. At the Retail Village, selected entrepreneurs will have access to a low-cost brick-and-mortar space enabled by rent abatement. They’ll also have access to business coaching, marketing and technical support and financing assistance — all with the hope that they’ll be able to scale their businesses. Monica Ray, president of the Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation and Sycamore & Oak retail village manager, said that selected food companies will also be getting operational support and mentoring from the José Andrés Group through the Chefs in Residence program.

The space began taking shape three years ago when investor Emerson Collective’s team and community leaders began speaking with local residents about their needs in a community space, Ray said. According to Ray, residents were interested in economic opportunities and a safe space for gathering, shopping and living. The result was Sycamore & Oak, which opens with the hope of providing services and neighborhood amenities.

“A primary goal of this effort is for the Congress Heights community to succeed alongside the Sycamore & Oak project, and the hope is this will create strong economic opportunities for residents and better financial security for future generations,” Ray told Technical.ly.

Inside Sycamore & Oak. (Photo courtesy of Dror Baldinger FAIA)

The 23,000-square-foot space, located at 1100 Oak Drive SE, was designed by architect David Adjaye (who also did the National Museum of African American History and Culture). The space, Ray said, has three core initiatives: healthy living, business development and culture. The development will feature a gym, which she said was the first private gym to open in Ward 8. All the participating businesses are founded by Ward 7 and Ward 8 residents, and the space is expected to create 100 jobs. She also hopes that the facility will be a “neighborhood-serving town square” and destination for local residents.

“Sycamore & Oak was created as a direct response to the Congress Heights community members’ call for centralized access to much-needed services and amenities in their neighborhood,” Ray said. “This project is truly reflective of the community’s aspirations.”

The incubator is the first installment of a larger project, which will be a mixed-use real estate development in Congress Heights. The larger, 650,000-square-foot space will include a hotel, affordable housing units, retail, restaurants and convening spaces.

These are the 13 participating businesses:

• Black Bella Spa & Wellness Center
• Soufside Creative
• Chris Pyrate & Friends
• LoveMore Brand
• Paradyce Clothing Company, Inc.
• Vaya Beauty
• The Museum DC
• WeFitDC
• Dionne’s Good Food
• Glizzy’s DC
• Triecy’s DC
• Buna Talk Café
• The Fresh Food Factory Market

Retail and open space at Sycamore & Oak. (Photo courtesy of Dror Baldinger FAIA)