Britches of Georgetowne Founder Plans to Revive Brand
• October 15, 2015

For decades, it was the smart mark of the well-dressed man, a stylish retailer with a well-heeled attitude that could get both father and son wearing its clothing, Britches of Georgetowne—which added “Since 1967” on its labels from the very start. It is about to be revived almost 50 years later.

Britches of Georgetowne co-founder Rick Hindin, a businessman and entrepreneur, is known around Washington, D.C., for the iconic Georgetown clothing store as well as for Adworks, Chicken Out Rotisserie and Hinsilblon Laboratories—and the causal version of the men’s clothing store, Britches Great Outdoors.

“We can do this again,” said Hindin of the Britches revival. “It is a heritage brand, a legacy brand,” he said. “Manufacturers are seeking licenses for such brands. We have been working on this for a little over a year. The clothing will be targeted to millennials and baby boomers. There will be separate models for each segment with the same fabrication—ages 25 to 65 with the same taste level.”

Hindin bought the trademarks for Britches and with Stephen Wayne will revive the label and its apparel with sales expected to begin before the end of 2016.

Britches was sold by its founders Hindin and David Pensky in 1983 to the retail specialist, CML Group, although the two ran the business until the late 1980s. When they left, Britches, including Britches Great Outdoors, numbered 100 stores. The company formally declared bankrupty in 2002.

The first Britches was at 1245 Wisconsin Ave. NW—today, appropriately, the space occupied by Ralph Lauren. Its second store was at 1219 Connecticut Ave. NW, not far from Raleigh’s, Burberry’s and other men’s clothing stores, some still in business, others not, but all classic for their times.

Now a business consultant with his Asterisk Group, Hindin lives in Chevy Chase, Md., but he added that he was most proud of another thing he helped to found in Georgetown. In the early 1970s, Hinden along with John Laytham (Clyde’s), Richard McCooey (1789, the Tombs), Jim Weaver (Weaver’s Hardware) and Paul Cohn (J. Paul’s, Old Glory, Paulo’s) started the Georgetown Business Association.

While Hinden knows the power of ageless style and of nostalgia, he is also betting that baby boomer and millennial can agree on the branding power of Georgetown, D.C.

When the Market Is Volatile, Drop Sails and Row
• September 23, 2015

In October 2007, the stock market reached a high. During the 18-month decline that followed, ending in April 2009, the market lost more than 56.78 percent of its value (as measured by the S&P 500 index). This resulted in a housing crisis and a crippling 10-percent unemployment rate, the lowest level since early 1997. Then, from the bottom in 2009, the stock market recovered, rising more than 215 percent by April 2015.

Investors, feeling they had missed out, began to reenter the market, only to be blindsided when volatility came back with a vengeance. From July 2015 to the middle of August, the market experienced an 11.16-percent decline. On Aug. 24, the Dow shifted more than 4,890 points. As of September, that number was over 10,000 points. So, yes, market volatility is here and probably here for a while.

What’s an investor to do to weather the storm? Perhaps now is the time to think of passive versus active investing. Proponents of index investing simply focus on fees, but I believe there are other factors to consider.

Think of it in terms of sailing versus rowing. If you are sailing and the seas are calm with the wind at your back, the fastest way to get to your destination is to roll out the jib. Sailing is index investing; I agree it works best in a rising market. But when the seas get rough and the wind shifts, any smart sailor will drop his or her sails and begin rowing so as not to blow too far off — hence, active management.

Historically, active managers have lagged behind benchmarks during long and strong bull markets, when security selection makes less of a difference. However, they tend to add value and make up that lost ground when markets level off or suffer corrections. (Again, it’s like sailing versus rowing.)

The S&P 500 is a market-capitalization index, which means the largest companies contribute a larger percentage of the return as well as the risk. As the markets increase, so does the risk. In 2014, five companies represented 11 percent of the index return, despite the fact that none of those companies was among the top 10 stocks.

During the tech boom of the 1990s, technology represented 34.5 percent of the S&P 500. It fell to the bottom in 2002, representing only 12.3 percent of the index. Financial stocks represented 22.3 percent of the index in 2006 and 8.9 percent at the bottom in March of 2009.

Investing in the S&P 500 at the peak of a market cycle is like speeding up going into an intersection rather than slowing down. Therefore, rather than abandoning a good strategy and jumping out of the market during volatile times, perhaps a little tweaking and moving from passive index investing to more actively managed investing could be the solution — keeping you on track and keeping your portfolio from blowing off course.

John E. Girouard, author of “Take Back Your Money” and “The Ten Truths of Wealth Creation,” is a registered principal of Cambridge Investment Research and an Investment Advisor Representative of Capital Investment Advisors in Bethesda, Maryland.

Georgetown’s Cat Café Boosts Prices, Changes Policies
• September 18, 2015

After instigating more than 23 cat adoptions, changes are coming to Crumbs and Whiskers, the cat café at 3211 O St. NW that opened two months ago.

First, the price of admission has been increased from $10 to $15. On the bright side, Crumbs and Whiskers will now offer customers complimentary coffee and tea, with the option to buy pastries, prepared off-site by Pâtisserie Poupon.

To reduce overcrowding, the café will now limit the amount of customers allowed inside from 37 to 24. New seating is also available inside.

Despite the changes, cat cafes remain popular. There is now a fundraising campaign to start one across the river in Alexandria, Va.

Psst!: Secret Service Is Hiring
• September 17, 2015

Under the gun for security lapses, the Secret Service is hiring, big time. Over the next five years, the agency will add 700 officers to the uniformed division and 400 agents. At 17 percent, it is the largest increase in more than 10 years, as the agency tries to repair its reputation following numerous highly visible scandals.

After moving from the Treasury Department to the Department of Homeland Security, the agency’s annual funding fell from its previous pace, and hiring slowed. The 2016 budget, with a 16 percent increase — the largest since joining Homeland Security — appears to be a response to the notoriety.

According to a statement by Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary, “This hiring campaign is the result of attrition, anticipated growth and in response to recommendations set forth by the Protective Mission Panel in December 2014,” which occurred after a man entered the White House after jumping a fence.

Boho Chic Free People Opens Aug. 21
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Free People, a Bohemian chic-inspired apparel and retail store that sells women’s clothing and accessories, will open its first store in D.C. – at 3009 M St., NW – on Friday, Aug. 21.

It is also throwing a grand opening party, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Aug. 21, with refreshments as well as free styling sessions in the new store, which sits between Sprinkles Cupcakes and Hu’s Shoes. The first 50 guests to arrive will get a free gift (we hear it will be a Free People tote bag).

Owned by Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters, Free People has more than 81 boutiques in the U.S. and two in Canada. It has six stores in the Washington area. [gallery ids="102294,127655,127649,127667,127676,127660" nav="thumbs"]

Pepco Merger Rejected by District Commission
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The D.C. Public Service Commission, a regulatory agency in charge of overseeing electric, natural gas and telephone companies, among others, rejected Exelon’s proposal to buy Pepco in a $6.6 billion bid on August 25.

After examining seven “public interest factors,” like the effect on ratepayers, competition in the market and the environment, the Commission concluded that, “taken as a whole, the transaction as proposed by Exelon and Pepco is not in the public interest.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser responded to the decision, saying, “I support the decision against the proposed merger. Moving forward, we want to ensure that DC utility ratepayers receive quality service, that we maintain and grow jobs in the District, and that we keep DC on our continued path toward sustainability.” The decision was also supported by POWER DC, a coalition formed against the merger.

Pepco and Exelon released a joint statement in response to the decision, saying, “We are disappointed with the Commission’s decision and believe it fails to recognize the benefits of the merger to the District of Columbia and its residents and businesses.” The release goes on to say that the two companies “continue to believe our proposal is in the public interest and provides direct immediate and long-term benefits to customers, enhances reliability and preserves our role as a community partner.” They said they “will review our options with respect to this decision” to figure out a path forward.

Georgetown’s Makeup Artist Carl Ray Splits for Downtown
• August 31, 2015

Carl Ray, makeup artist to first lady Michelle Obama and other Washington, D.C., luminaries, has left George, the beauty salon for VIPs at the Four Season Hotel, for One80 Salon on K Street. Ray had worked at George for 16 years and told the staff Saturday of his departure.

Besides the first lady, Ray’s client list includes the famous and powerful in politics and entertainment: Nancy Pelosi, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagen, Valerie Jarrett and Bill Clinton as well as Queen Noor and Princess Hussein along with Natalie Portman, Claire Danes, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.

“I want to be a part of this new wave of renaissance in fashion and beauty taking place in the city right now,”
Ray told the Washington Post. “There is a resurgence and energy that is downtown. I have watched this area grow, and I want to be a part of this movement.”

Ray’s move comes about a year after he broke from his partner, Rick Raines, manager of George, leaving his time there tenuous.

Mad Fox Taproom Opens in Glover Park
• August 19, 2015

Last week, Mad Fox Breweries opened its D.C. gastropub, Max Fox Taproom, at 2218 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Bill Madden, Mad Fox CEO and executive brewer, and Rick Garvin, his business partner, started Mad Fox in 2007. Falls Church will remain the hub of the operation, with all the beers brewed there in its 16-barrel brewery. The new location will showcase Mad Fox’s award-winning handcrafted beers with draft and English-style cask service, including up to 24 draft and cask options.
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Little Birdies Flies to Wisconsin Avenue
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Little Birdies Boutique, which made its debut on P Street in 2014, has moved its children’s clothing store just around the corner to a smaller space (700 square feet) at 1526 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

“We are thrilled to be moved into our new Wisconsin Avenue location,” owner Shanlee Johnson tells us. “Our new space offers in-house custom monogramming by the local favorite, Whyte House Monograms, and we are looking forward to all the fun events we have planned for fall. Join us in October for our grand opening party and enjoy discounts, swag bags and celebration.”
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P Street Shops Get Special Treatment From American Express
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With the artistic talents of designer Sheila Bridges from New York and the marketing reach of American Express, selected shops on the 3200 block of P Street got their doors and window fronts lit up and prettied up with a reindeer theme. The lights and displays went up on Nov. 29, Small Business Saturday, and will remain through 2014. Said designer Bridges: “Every business here complements the other. It is amazing. They have a great sense of pride.” Word on the streets persisted that President Obama had planned to make a stop at P Street for Small Business Saturday but nixed the idea because of the Ferguson protest march on M Street.