Editorial: Staying the Course, Together
By • October 7, 2025 0 394
Our Business Ins & Outs column is what many readers turn to first. Georgetown residents love getting the scoop when a top retailer or a chef’s latest venture is headed our way (the Ins). The news that it’s time to bid a local business farewell may draw an “Oh well” or even an “Oh no!” (the Outs).
Since 1954, this publication has reported on a multitude of changes to Georgetown. But every now and then, it seems only right to expend some congratulatory ink on our fellow enterprises of long standing.
First and foremost in Washington’s oldest neighborhood: Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the United States, established in 1789.
The Citizen’s Association of Georgetown, known as CAG, traces its roots to 1878, when the Georgetown Citizens Association was founded as D.C.’s first civic group (the merger creating the modern organization occurred in 1963).
Can you name the neighborhood’s oldest continuing business? It’s Weaver Hardware, which began in 1889 as W.T. Weaver & Sons, now in its fourth generation of family ownership. Also in its fourth generation: Martin’s Tavern, opened on the corner of Wisconsin and N in 1933 by former Major League Baseball player William Gloyd (Billy) Martin with the help of his father William S. Martin. William A. (Billy) Martin runs the place now.
The same age as The Georgetowner, 71, is a third-generation family business, Georgetown Floorcoverings, headed by Karen Ohri and 100-percent women-owned, as are we.
A relative youngster: Georgetown Tobacco, where David Berkebile, who set up shop on M Street in 1964, is still minding the store. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! And Blues Alley right behind Georgetown Tobacco is 60 this year.
Others with decades of service include Snyder Properties, and Salon ILO, which turned 30 this year.
Think of how much your own life has changed in the past 30, 40 or 50 years (or more). These essential entities have stayed the course — at times having to struggle to survive, no doubt. Yet here they remain, constant presences, landmarks really, that contribute so much to the quality of life enjoyed by Georgetown residents, workers and visitors.
They deserve our loyalty in good times and, even more, in this challenging lead-up to the nation’s 250th birthday. Let’s stick together, as neighbors should.
