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There use to be a plethora of Black business in and around Washington DC during the 70's, 80's and early 90's. Where are they? What happened to them?
Many are still around. You can still find plenty all up and down Georgia Ave. Check out the H Street NE especially towards the eastern side. That's where I go for my haircuts. Anacostia, etc.
But how many black businesses are still in downtown DC? There's a big difference between having your own business in Chinatown, Penn Quarter, 14th Street/Logan Circle, DuPont Circle, K Street compared to the outlying residential neighborhoods of NE and SE DC. BIG difference. Black-owned businesses at one time had federal government and professional customers in downtown DC. Not anymore.
Black families did own businesses in some of the most prime downtown locations back in the day. Ditto for Jewish families. The black and Jewish owned shops have been steadily gentrified out as commercial landlords jacked up rents with new leases. Korean families are also losing businesses in DC because of skyrocketing commercial rents. I saw this happening in the early 1990s.
Corporate chains and wealthy, white suburban people have gobbled up the best retail and restaurant locations in the District. Minority-owned businesses are thriving in the suburbs though. If you want to see African American entrepreneurship in office buildings and retail shops, visit Maryland.
The best data I know to look at is going back to 2007 numbers and comparing them to 2002 numbers. The Census will be releasing 2012 business owner data, but the estimated release date is August 2015 for black business owner data, so that isn't too much help.
From 2002 to 2007, total receipts of black-owned businesses in Washington DC increased from $1.57 billion to $2.36 billion. This represents a 50.5% revenue increase over a 5 year period.
The total black-owned firms in DC increased from 12,198 to 15,774 over the same period. This represents a 29.3% increase in black owned businesses in the district over a 5 year period.
Within that number, employer firms (companies with employees other than the owner) increased from 1,247 to 1,426, a 14.4% increase. The number of employees at black-owned firms increased from 14,130 to 19,297, a 36.6% increase. Their revenue increased from $1.35 billion to $2 billion, a 48.9% increase.
The number of nonemployee firms (single-owner, no employees, small/side businesses) increased from 10,951 to 14,348; a 31% increase. Revenues of black-owned nonemployee firms raised from $223 million to $357 million; a 60.1% increase.
The oldest available data online is 1992 (capturing the early 90's days the OP referenced). In 1992 there were 10,111 total black owned firms with $452 million in sales. Within that number there were 787 employer firms, employing 4,277 people with $313 million in receipts and 9,324 nonemployer firms with $139 million in receipts.
So between 1992 and 2007, the number of black owned businesses in DC has increased by 56% and their revenues have increased by 654%.
But how many black businesses are still in downtown DC? There's a big difference between having your own business in Chinatown, Penn Quarter, 14th Street/Logan Circle, DuPont Circle, K Street compared to the outlying residential neighborhoods of NE and SE DC. BIG difference. Black-owned businesses at one time had federal government and professional customers in downtown DC. Not anymore.
Black families did own businesses in some of the most prime downtown locations back in the day. Ditto for Jewish families. The black and Jewish owned shops have been steadily gentrified out as commercial landlords jacked up rents with new leases. Korean families are also losing businesses in DC because of skyrocketing commercial rents. I saw this happening in the early 1990s.
Corporate chains and wealthy, white suburban people have gobbled up the best retail and restaurant locations in the District. Minority-owned businesses are thriving in the suburbs though. If you want to see African American entrepreneurship in office buildings and retail shops, visit Maryland.
I don't think the OP made the distinction between what part of DC the Black businesses are located in. He's seems to be arguing that there are no longer many Black businesses in or around DC. I would also disagree with your comment that there are no more black owned businesses downtown or in areas that are prime retail locations.
I believe that Oya, The Hamilton, The Park, Ben's Chili Bowl and Georgia Brown's are all located in Downtown or near prime retail locations in DC. There are lots of new businesses being created by Black people in the city.
This may answer a different question but it's worth mentioning: I'd imagine some businesses owned by whites are operating out of buildings owned by blacks, but I don't know if that's true. In other words, you may not see as many black-owned businesses but that doesn't mean blacks aren't invested or investing.
The best data I know to look at is going back to 2007 numbers and comparing them to 2002 numbers. The Census will be releasing 2012 business owner data, but the estimated release date is August 2015 for black business owner data, so that isn't too much help.
From 2002 to 2007, total receipts of black-owned businesses in Washington DC increased from $1.57 billion to $2.36 billion. This represents a 50.5% revenue increase over a 5 year period.
The total black-owned firms in DC increased from 12,198 to 15,774 over the same period. This represents a 29.3% increase in black owned businesses in the district over a 5 year period.
Within that number, employer firms (companies with employees other than the owner) increased from 1,247 to 1,426, a 14.4% increase. The number of employees at black-owned firms increased from 14,130 to 19,297, a 36.6% increase. Their revenue increased from $1.35 billion to $2 billion, a 48.9% increase.
The number of nonemployee firms (single-owner, no employees, small/side businesses) increased from 10,951 to 14,348; a 31% increase. Revenues of black-owned nonemployee firms raised from $223 million to $357 million; a 60.1% increase.
The oldest available data online is 1992 (capturing the early 90's days the OP referenced). In 1992 there were 10,111 total black owned firms with $452 million in sales. Within that number there were 787 employer firms, employing 4,277 people with $313 million in receipts and 9,324 nonemployer firms with $139 million in receipts.
So between 1992 and 2007, the number of black owned businesses in DC has increased by 56% and their revenues have increased by 654%.
But .... it doesn't feel that way, so you can't be right.
I think a lot of people who don't spend much time in the city itself don't realize how much black people are driving gentrification. The professional black population here is a substantial market that is being catered to by a lot of businesses.
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