Main Street Issues 8 Grants, Toasts Martin’s Tavern
By • April 7, 2025 0 241
Georgetown Main Street’s “State of the Street” annual meeting on April 2 at Fathom Gallery “was full and the energy was high,” said Executive Director Rachel Shank. “Everyone there is invested in the success of the Georgetown neighborhood. There’s a real spirit of camaraderie and collaboration at GMS gatherings,” she added.
Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto spoke about her commitment to small businesses and safety. Acknowledging the uncertainty of the times, and noting that it’s “a weird time” to be in D.C., she said that the Council is working behind the scenes to ensure that the city remains autonomous and its budget stable.
GMS awarded a $5,000 small business grant to eight businesses: Café Georgetown, Oki Shōten, Pacers Running, Dent Place Market, Dog Tag Inc., Calloway Fine Art & Consulting, Gallery Article 15 and Georgetown Massage & Bodywork.
GMS itself received a $40,000 grant from the District Department of Small and Local Business Development. DSLBD Director Rosemary Suggs-Evans attended the gathering.
In addition, GMS is working with Pedal Retail Advisors on a program called “Stick Around Georgetown” to help outstanding small businesses sustain themselves and renew their leases. The application will be released this month; at least 10 small businesses will be selected for the program by early May.
Martin’s Tavern was named GMS’s Outstanding Community Partner for 2025, thanks to the landmark restaurant’s generosity. Along with a toast, owner Billy Martin received a mini whiskey barrel engraved with: “Martin’s Tavern, raising spirits and building community. Cheers, GMS.”
Quick stats about the GMS corridor (K Street to Whitehaven Packway along Wisconsin Avenue) were highlighted, thanks to Faith Broderick, Georgetown BID and PlacerAI.
- Over 7-percent growth, year over year
- 6.1 million visitors
- According to National Main Street, we are the eighth most visited Main Street in the network
- Saturdays are busiest, followed by Sunday and then Friday
- On average, visitors are spending more than 100 minutes on the corridor
- Over 50 percent of visitors live within a 10-mile radius of the corridor
- Busiest days were: back-to-school weekend, French Market, and weekends throughout the end of August and September.
After catering by Jenn Crovato’s 1310 Kitchen & Bar, the group closed out the night with cherry blossom treats from grant recipient Dog Tag Bakery.
Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto with Martin’s Tavern owner Billy Martin. Photo by Bill Starrels.
