NEIGHBORHOOD
Shaw Streets by Pleasant Mann
Manager Jessica Hubbard describes Compass Coffee’s operations to a delegation of Puerto Rican Mayors. Photo: Pleasant Mann
Puerto Rican Mayors Tour Shaw
On Friday evening, July 2, Shaw Main Streets gave mayors from three cities in Puerto Rico, Yauco, Utuado and Guayanilla, a tour of Shaw at the request of Main Street America’s National Main Street Center. The mayors were in DC visiting federal government agencies and members of Congress and wanted to see an example of the Main Street Four Point Approach to commercial revitalization in operation. Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alex Padro welcomed the eight-member delegation at Grand Cata Latin Wine Shop. The shop, which
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specializes in wines and spirits from Spain and Latin America, is owned by a Puerto Rican and a Chilean proprietor, and is an example of a successful Shaw Main Streets business. Because the mayors came from the southwest of Puerto Rico, a notable coffee growing area, the group next went to Compass Coffee’s flagship store on Seventh Street, where District Manager Jessica Hubbard gave the group a tour of the operation. After sampling some of Compass’ coffee drinks and discussing the prospects for statehood for both Puerto Rico and the District, the group moved on to dinner at Qui Qui DC (www.quiquidc.com), the new Puerto Rican restaurant on the
second floor of The Passenger. Chef/Owner Ismael Mendez was grateful for the group’s patronage and asked all to sign his Puerto Rican flag-draped autograph wall after enjoying a delicious dinner of authentic island dishes. Shaw’s U Street Parking provided two chauffeur-driven black Cadillac Escalades to transport the group to City Market at O Street for a visit to that award-winning mixed use development. From City Market, the tour investigated the commercial activity on Seventh and Ninth Streets, ending up in Little Ethiopia, where the visitors witnessed Shaw’s vibrant nightlife before returning to their hotel.
