...with all the this, that and the other kinds of shops which occupy retail space in Georgetown, and with offices in buildings all over the commercial area, why oh why don't we have a business supply store? We used to have a little "ma and pa" on Dumbarton Street, which was put out of business by Staples, which was put out of business by its own self.
And so, here we are, with all kinds of options for buying clothing made in "emerging market" nations, but not one single full on business supply store. This is where the Georgetown development plan is a big fat failure. Oops. My mistake. There is no Georgetown development plan...that I know of.
Had to drive downtown today to buy printer ink. In rush hour. With no parking. It's trivial until you need something like printer ink at 4 pm on a Wednesday. I live in Georgetown to be in Georgetown, not to have to drive downtown at rush hour. This would be a whiny complaint except Georgetown is a retail hub and used to have useful businesses among all the other stuff. Please don't tell me Target will answer the problem. The problem was once upon a time answered with the "ma and pa" store on Dumbarton.
Author, interviewer, and photographer. 
Here is information for book clubs that have chosen Innocent Spouse: 
Carol,
I'm with you. How do you buy printer ink on the Internet if you need it right away? It's the same all over DC, not just a GTown. Art supplies are my issue. No, I can't see taking 11/2-2 hours to walk to Metro, go downtown, walk to art store, to buy ONE tube of watercolor paint. Not because of my ill planning, because the teacher decided we needed it in two days. I envy your previous poster's luxury of time. Perhaps he should consider that some people may have more to do with their time.
Posted by: AMK | 04/08/2011 at 08:53 AM
PS: If you need office supplies and must buy at a bricks and mortar store...might I recommend crossing the river where there are plenty of them and with parking.
PPS: If you must go downtown...how about not driving...instead taking a bus...the Circulator is still running until the Fed Govt. shutdown.
Posted by: RNM | 04/07/2011 at 11:36 AM
I know you don't want to hear it...but yes Target would answer the problem. Then again, I don't get people who go to stores to buy things like printer ink when Amazon will deliver it cheaper.
We had a Staples in Georgetown for a long time...it failed. There just isn't enough support for a full time business store. A small mom and pop that included such items probably would struggle as they serve the ever dwindling supply of people who go to stores for such items. However a full service department store such as Target would be able to meet your needs.
Next will there be a complaint about not being able to go to the long defunct Georgetown Electronics to buy a TV? Oh, Target would also meet that need.
What I am reading in your posts is that you want your needs met...but you want them met on your antiquated terms. Like it or not, good or bad, times they have a changed.
Posted by: RNM | 04/07/2011 at 11:32 AM