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Lettie Gooch Boutique Is Closing Its Shaw Location

It’s not a total goodbye. The shop is hoping to pop up elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of @lettiegooch

The local women’s clothing boutique Lettie Gooch Boutique is closing their Shaw storefront after 15 years in the area. The store first opened on 9th Street NW and for the past five years has been located near the corner of 8th and Florida. Since it first opened in 2005, the Black-woman-owned brick-and-mortar has served up major style goals for shoppers looking for accessories, jumpsuits, little black dresses, and more. Owner Theresa Watt named the store after her grandmother, Lettie Gooch, and she was committed to being an integral part of the DC fashion community and Shaw neighborhood. 

Watt shared the news of the store’s closing on Instagram, writing, “These are extraordinary times, and we could have never imagined what this year would bring.” She explained that their lease was ending at the end of October, and “given the current climate, we have decided now is the time to SHIFT.” Watt plans to enhance the store’s online presence and also look into pop-up retail opportunities, stating, “We have other plans up our sleeves that are still being baked.”  

The announcement prompted an outpouring from the store’s fans. Proper Topper, another DC retailer that closed one of its locations earlier this month, wrote, “Sending you hugs. It’s a soul-testing time. I keep trying to remember not to be sorry that it ended . . .to treasure that it happened. May the community you lifted up will keep loving and lifting you.” Other customers also wrote to say they’re “looking forward to what’s next” for the store. 

View this post on Instagram

After 15 years, our Storefront is Closing. 15 years ago this month we signed a lease to open our very first women's clothing boutique on 9th ST in Shaw.  We are honored to be able to celebrate this milestone and be part of local retail in DC's vibrant U ST/SHAW corridor.  It's also been 5 years since we opened our current location, and like many businesses in our community, neighbors and friends, we are adapting. These are extraordinary times, and we could have never imagined what this year would bring.  Our lease is ending this month. Given the current climate, we have decided now is the time to SHIFT. Through the month of October, you can support us by: 1) SHOPPING OUR SIDEWALK SALE THIS WEEKEND Shop our Sidewalk Sale this weekend as this will be our last full weekend at this location. SAT 12-6 SUN 12-6 2) SHOPPING LETTIE GOOCH ONLINE You can shop new arrivals and your Lettie Gooch favorites online 3) BOOK A PRIVATE SHOPPING APPOINTMENT Schedule a private shopping appointment during the week.   4) DONATING If you want to bless us with a cash gift so we can continue this journey. Cash App $LettieGooch1 This isn’t goodbye. We have other plans up our sleeves that are still being baked.  We are thinking big and bright (enhanced online presence, pop-up shops, etc.) and we hope you are too. Once our permanent storefront closes, lookout for new weekly arrivals online, special events and maybe even a little POPUP SHOP just in time for the Holidays. Theresa and the Lettie Gooch Team

A post shared by Lettie Gooch Boutique (@lettiegooch) on

You can find our running list of DC retail closures here.

jacqueline-tynes
Assistant Editor, Washingtonian Weddings

Jacqueline comes to Washingtonian with close to five years of digital content experience and SEO best practices. She previously was a senior editorial associate at WeddingWire, specializing in wedding fashion, and before that, an assistant at Vow Bride. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, she now lives in Columbia Heights.