Pot pies are solving business problems in Georgetown.

 The owner of 1310 Kitchen & Bar is cooking up ways this October to help small businesses in Georgetown cover some of their costs.

 This year, the Chicken Pot Pie-athon hosted by 1310 Kitchen & Bar will run from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, and the proceeds raised will go to Georgetown Mainstreet to help small retailers in the neighborhood cover rising business expenses.

 The Chicken Pot Pie-athon typically raises $3,500, said Rachel Shank, executive director of Georgetown Mainstreet. She added that the funds raised are added to Georgetown Mainstreet’s general fund to provide advertising revenue, grants, and rent assistance to small businesses in the neighborhood.

The Georgetown Mainstreet grants are usually used by businesses to cover costs of restaurant equipment, SEO consulting, and construction work, said Shank.

This year, 30% of the proceeds from frozen meal purchases on the Chicken Pot Pie-athon menu will be donated to Georgetown Mainstreet, said Jenn Crovato, chef and owner of 1310 Kitchen & Bar. The frozen meals can be purchased online or from the freezer located next to the host stand in 1310 Kitchen & Bar.

Crovato said that the menu of frozen items has been expanded to accommodate allergens and dietary restrictions. Menu items available for purchase include pot pies, mac and cheese, and lasagnas, said Crovato.

When the pandemic began in 2020, the Chicken Pot Pie-athon started with the goal of aiding local businesses while also promoting 1310 Kitchen & Bar, said Crovato.

She wanted to find a way to raise money for Georgetown small businesses without hosting an in-person event. In its first year, the Chicken Pot Pie-athon ran for one week and raised $5,000, she added.

1310 Kitchen & Bar donated 50% of the Pot Pie-athon proceeds to Georgetown Mainstreet in its first year, said Crovato. But when 1310 Kitchen & Bar expanded its staff, the percentage of proceeds donated changed to account for staff wages and cost of supplies, she added.

The Pot Pie-athon proceeds pay for Georgetown Mainstreet’s administrative costs, grants for small business owners, and community events, said Shank. Owners of local businesses use the grants from Georgetown Mainstreet for equipment, construction fees, or digital advertising to promote their stores, she said.

A big concern for local businesses is marketing, Shank noted. Without marketing, small businesses can be neglected, and shoppers are more likely to shop at corporate retail stores, she added.

“And so often if it’s, if a small business is not front and center for a person, convenience will win out, right?” said Shank.

Crovato agreed, adding that one of the biggest reasons why small businesses struggle to get customers is due to lack of exposure.

Additionally, the cost of rent and licensing through D.C. government channels can be expensive for local business owners, said Shank. Georgetown Mainstreet offers emergency grants as well as “competitive edge” grants to help store owners cover essential costs, she added.

The uptick in rent prices for local business owners is in part due to the increase in corporate businesses in Georgetown, said Shank.

She added that these chains have noticed an increase in Georgetown foot traffic and are taking over small business rents to establish a physical presence in the neighborhood.

“I like to call this the corporate creep up Wisconsin,” said Shank.

The corporate openings offer pros and cons for local business owners, said Crovato.

The presence of larger retailers can benefit local stores, said Samantha Hays Gushner, third generation owner of The Phoenix, a family-owned boutique in Georgetown.

The store has been family owned since the 1950s, said Gushner, adding that The Phoenix has seen Georgetown go through many iterations.

The visibility and popularity of the neighborhood is at a high right now, she said.

Shoppers who come to Georgetown for chain stores can walk up the street and discover small businesses, said Gushner.

But the influx of chain businesses opening storefronts in Georgetown also is acting as competition for small businesses, said Crovato.

“People aren’t, I guess, spreading the love equally,” said Crovato.

To increase their visibility, Georgetown Mainstreet and small business owners often work together to host collaborative promotions or events, said Gushner. She added that she works with local artists to stock her store.

Events like these encourage patrons to discover new stores, shop locally, and meet local business owners in the neighborhood, added Shank.

“I feel like Georgetown has a very collaborative spirit,” said Gushner.

More information on the Chicken Pot Pie-athon at 1310 Kitchen & Bar can be found on its website.