Market SW is ending, but neighborhood-building events will continue

Small business owners and organizers say the seasonal end of the popular Friday night Market SW won’t leave a hole in community engagement in Southwest, given the range of activities on the neighborhood’s calendar.

Waterfront organizations such as the Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Southwest Neighborhood Library still plan events to allow residents to participate with neighbors, businesses, and history in an actively changing community. In addition, the organizers of the market are finalizing a calendar of events to take place over the next few months.

Market SW takes place every other Friday night from May to September at the 425 M St lot. The last market took place Friday, Sept. 19.

The night market hosts musical guests and small businesses from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. It allows these small businesses to promote their merchandise.

Southwest residents can enjoy and purchase food, music, jewelry, and clothing that range in cultural variety.

It is sponsored by the Southwest Business Improvement District and the mixed-use development Waterfront Station.

Creating community

The Southwest Business Improvement District invites small business owners to showcase products at Market SW to increase community engagement within the Waterfront neighborhood.

Maria Corbitt, co-owner of Claudia Alvarez Jewelry, said that hosting a table at the market for her business lets her “create a community” with her clients. Corbitt said that the night market helps her build relationships with recurring customers.

“I see a lot of young girls who purchase from me. And I call them my D.C. daughters. They come back, and they talk to me. I give them stuff, and they bake stuff for me,” she said.

Corbitt said that the relationships she makes are more rewarding than the money she earns. She said this is “the satisfaction that you’re doing it right.”

“It’s more than selling in this small market. It’s like creating a community,” she added.

Miguel Palacios, owner of Migue’s Minis, has been hosting a table at Market SW for 12 years. The vegan donut business also attends the Farmer’s Market SW.

Palacios said attending both makes him “feel part of the community.”

“We’re here all year round, every Saturday morning. We love being part of the community, it’s a big family now,” he said.

Palacios said that the presence of the National Guard in D.C. has caused a slowdown of his business. Since some of his customers are uneasy with the idea that “somebody’s watching over your shoulder all the time.”

“But in the last year, due to all that is happening around, it’s sort of a kind of slowdown to all the markets,” said Palacios. “But, like I said, we are in the community, and the community supports us a lot.”

Palacios said that business at Migue’s Minis is steady due to the community around him.

Southwest resident Carmen-Mitzi Sinnott has been familiar with the neighborhood for the last year. She said that Market SW is essential for the makeup of Southwest, which she describes as “socioeconomically diverse.”

“Everybody’s mixing in, and music and art have the capacity to do that, especially music,” she said.

Sinnott said that although the Market SW increases community engagement, it can improve in the future to represent more residents in the neighborhood by hosting various musical guests from other cultures.

“So, if anybody wants to think about bringing people together across the vibes here, you need to put some soul bands there,” she said. “Put some hip-hop artists and some jazz artists, and you’ll be able to blend the neighborhood better.”

Sinnott added that it is important that the community should “be more thoughtful about how we collaborate with our art.”

Engagement beyond the market

The Southwest Business Improvement District plans programs to encourage communication among residents and participation in community events. These programs range in topics such as art, food, and music.

Jessie Himmelrich, public space director of the Southwest BID, said that planning within the organization is important to bridge meaningful relationships between the community and small businesses.

“It is just a way to help bring the community out, bring them together. A little free entertainment. An opportunity to support local makers,” she said.

SW BID is in the process of planning its event calendar for the next year.

The organization plans to host pop-up art shows, out-to-lunch series, and seasonal events such as the Jingle Block Rock.

Residents can browse events on the organization’s calendar.

“I think we do a lot of different programming that contributes to community engagement. We have over 20 signature events throughout the year,” she said.

Himmelrich said that Farmers Market SW, hosted at the 425 M St lot from March to December, will still provide a place for residents to immerse themselves in the beauty of Southwest.

“I think Southwest is a very active community. I think it’s very diverse, and we get tons of different kinds of folks who come and participate,” said Himmelrich.

The Southwest Neighborhood Library holds several events that invite all residents to events that allow them to be immersed in creative, social, and productive atmospheres.

The library hosts events such as Baby Play Time, Story Time, Teen Lounge, and Cozy Boom Club to appeal to various age demographics, increasing the library’s outreach in the local community. Residents can browse events in the library’s calendar.

Southwest Neighborhood Library also hosts the Art All Night Celebration in partnership with other D.C. libraries. This program allows residents to celebrate public art with local artists and small businesses.

The library recently celebrated Art All Night the weekend of Sept. 12.

Francia Baker, library technician at the Southwest Neighborhood Library, said that programs at the library have a great impact on the community, especially on the youth.

“It gives the kids a safe place to be,” said Baker.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church sits just a block away from the 425 M St lot that hosts the Market SW. The church blends music, history, and social awareness to increase engagement in the diverse community of Southwest.

Elder George Kerr said that programs at the church preserve its community and the relationship it has with its visitors. The church has hosted Jazz Night for 28 years, Blue Monday for 19 years, and the Annual D.C. Jazz Preservation Festival for 24 years.

“We have been a staple in our community for many years,” Kerr said.

Kerr said that the church has “great relationships” with and hosts many events with the Southwest BID and Carron Baptist Church.

The church has partnered with other entities to host programs like back-to-school events and Juneteenth festivals to expand its reach and inform residents of the history of Southwest and the greater D.C. area.

Kerr said that “gentrification has taken quite a bit here in D.C.” The church uses D.C.’s rich history to host community events.

Some examples include the church’s visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the ‘Remember the Pearl’ event, which informs residents of the largest escape attempt by enslaved people.

“The Wharf has a lot of history down there with markers. It is incredible,” said Kerr.