Black women-owned businesses uniting in DC’s Petworth neighborhood

WASHINGTON — Despite fears of inflation and tariff-driven price hikes, consumer spending has been up this summer. One group of Black women-owned businesses in Petworth is working together to cash in.

Just one block of Upshur Street is home to Petworth Cigars, Flowers by Alexes, Elephant in My Room, and Cookie Wear — all owned by Black women.

“I’ve been here since I was 9 years old,” Alexes Haggins said. “My father moved to the other end of the block, and that’s where Flowers by Alexes was born, and we stayed there for many years after that. And about 20 years after my father passed away, I reopened the shop, and we’ve been here and doing really well since then.”

Haggins, who owns Flowers by Alexes, partners with multiple other businesses in the neighborhood, offering up her nearby event space for local artisans, makers, and other small business owners.

“Just coming back, reaching out and reconnecting with the community and how they receive me, it was just a good feeling,” she said. “So the things that we do is we host all different types of events–we do yoga, Pilates, crocheting, just something where the community will have a place to come and just enjoy the space.”

Across the street from Flowers by Alexes sits Petworth Cigars. Owner Dyane Johnson is a lifelong entrepreneur whose family has owned the space for years.

“It’s excellent to be able to have the support and integration of different businesses,” Johnson said. “You have shops that offer clothing, flowers, food. It’s just nice to be able to be a part of that.”

August marks Black-owned Business month, so DC’s Department of Small and Local Business Development shared some data on their businesses:

• DC has the highest concentration of Black-owned businesses in the US (28%-35%)
• Black women entrepreneurs lead growth in the District, owning nearly 40% of Black businesses in DC
• Black businesses contribute millions in revenue and jobs to DC’s economy

“We always are trying to support our small and local businesses, and we do that through not only grants but also just technical support that we give,” the Director of DC’s Small and Local Business Development, Rosemary Suggs-Evans said.

One of the newer local businesses that has received support from her neighbors and the city is Elephant in My Room. The shop sells curated vintage clothes and household items.

“It’s been so great. I’ve taken my time to get to know everyone, so I’m happy to be a woman and a Black-owned business on the block,” owner Tisha Brown said. “It’s been awesome.”

Brown received mentorship and support from the owner of Fia’s Fabulous Finds across the street until she was able to step out on her own.

“I started selling clothes with a single rack in my two bedroom apartment five years ago. From there I did pop ups. I was in Fia’s middle room when she was here, so it’s full circle to be back and this is now my space,” Brown said.

Next door is a long-time DC staple — Cookie Wear.

Owner Michelle Smith has collected, curated, and created urban retro-inspired clothing and accessories for more than 20 years.

“Cookie Wear is actually 25 years old. It started in Petworth, so this is our jam, OK?” Smith said. “We celebrate the ’80s and the ’90s in fun and fashion.” 

DC is offering multiple different grants this month to small business owners:

• The Made in DC × ReFashion Market Access Grant provides up to $2,000 in reimbursable grants to DC-based creative entrepreneurs operating home-based, online, or mobile businesses without a storefront. Up to 25 awards will be made from a $50,000 total fund, with eligible expenses covering inventory, event participation, branding, and business operations. The grant application closes on August 22, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET.
• The 2025 Ward 8 Community Investment Fund (Ward 8 CIF) supports resident-operated businesses located in Ward 8, with grant awards of up to $10,000. This program is designed to boost businesses and strengthen the local economy. With a total pool of $430,000, DSLBD expects to award between 43 and 86 grants. Applications for this opportunity are due by August 18, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET.
• The FY25 District Capitalized Revolving Fund Manager Grant will award up to three grants with $298,000 in total funding available to eligible financial partners to expand DSLBD’s support of equitable access to capital for qualified DC businesses facing barriers in accessing lines of credit and other financing with traditional funders. It aims to extend the impact of DSLBD funding and increase the number of business beneficiaries by revolving the initial funds and supporting community lenders’ efforts to establish business credit reporting for DC-based businesses. Applications for this opportunity are due by August 25, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET.