After more than four decades, True Value on 17th Street in D.C.’s Dupont Circle is closing.
For many who live in this part of D.C., it’s been a neighborhood fixture, serving residents since before drag queens raced down 17th Street in the first High Heel Race.
The news shocked many local shoppers.
“I can’t believe it. This is an earthquake for our community,” said Vincent Slatt, an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Dupont Circle. “This is an institution in Dupont Circle.”
Its current owner has worked at the store for 51 years, Slatt said, and is preparing to retire later this year.
Katie Swafford, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 13 years, said the store has always made her feel welcome.
“Especially as a woman, they’re so friendly to people, helpful with questions you have,” Swafford said. “They always have random things that you can’t find anyplace else.”
Brock Thompson, who has lived in the area for 20 years, was walking his dog when he stopped outside the store. He said he’s shopped there for everything from dustpans and Miracle-Gro to nails and paint.
“Where do we go? Are we going to turn to Amazon? Are we going to turn to the suburbs? I don’t know. We’ll see,” Thompson said.
Slatt hopes there may be another option: having the neighborhood or the store’s employees buy the business and operate it as a collective.
“I’d like to make sure the two things happen: we keep our hardware store, and that our owner has a wonderful retirement,” Slatt said. “Bon voyage. Thank you for your service.”
Source
