Then came a wave of construction and demolition mayhem in the blocks surrounding the boutique at 7349 Wisconsin Avenue. Remix was one of many businesses hit hard by the major loss of foot traffic when the Regal Bethesda 10 cineplex was demolished. A Towson study showed that the loss of the theater may be costing downtown Bethesda as many as 20,000 additional visitors on weekends.
The Montgomery County Council's massive 2016 property tax hike has jacked up their property tax bill this fall to $6334. Remix will have to move when their current lease runs out, as they can no longer afford the tax, insurance and rent bills for this location. The store's staff did not get a raise this year, and if things don't turn around, Remix won't be able to continue.
Kennedy has turned to his supportive customers, and to GoFundMe, for help. A fundraising page for the store is trending on the site, and has reached $2288 of the $25,000 goal as of this morning. Kennedy says he hopes to pay back those who contribute if the store can right the ship in time. For now, another longtime small business in downtown Bethesda (Mustard Seed opened in 1991) hangs in the balance.
9 comments:
"Mustard Seed has been a fixture in the used fashion scene in downtown Bethesda for decades. In 2016, owner Derek Kennedy bought out his partner, and changed the shop's name to Remix Recycling Company. In retrospect, Kennedy says, that may have been a mistake giving the misperception that Mustard Seed had closed."
How is this a "misperception"? If he wanted the business and reputation of that business, he should have kept the old name.
If Tastee Diner changed its name to "Trump Tavern", should they expect to keep their business at the same level as before?
Are you really trying to blame a small property tax increase for a local business' struggles?
Please...the entire building's property taxes went up less than $2,000 for 2016, less than $500 for either the years 2017 or 2018. And that was for the WHOLE BUILDING, not just for the store's 1st floor rental. The whole building is $19,455 for 2018, and theirs is $6,334.
I'd go into Mustard Seed from time to time but I still had no idea Remix was the same owner.
I thought it was like rug stores, one leaves, another comes in. (I think they all work together to mix things up)
Did he tell you about how he changed the return policy? That is what made my wife stop shopping at Remix. She liked the flexible return policy of Mustard Seed.
No, I hadn't heard that! I haven't been in since it changed, but the sign made me think it was a new place.
Still, I hate to think of it not surviving...
Corporate welfare. Instead of asking for a handout, offer a product that people want along with service they expect.
If Tastee did that, their sales would go thru the roof. Great idea!
"Then came a wave of construction and demolition mayhem in the blocks surrounding the boutique at 7349 Wisconsin Avenue. Remix was one of many businesses hit hard by the major loss of foot traffic when the Regal Bethesda 10 cineplex was demolished."
If you think that "construction and demolition mayhem" "surrounds" Matrix, you a) don't know the geography of downtown Bethesda, or b) don't know what the word "surrounds" actually means.
Also, how many people combine a watching a movie and shopping for used clothing in the same trip?
"Matrix" s/b "Remix". Either way, it's a dumb name.
If you want a woman to shop at your store, don’t put “recycling company” in the name. It brings trash to mind, for starters.
Another that did not realize the store was still there. Miss the name Mustardseed.
Post a Comment