Evening star., 1908-12-12
SMALL STORES A FEATURE
COMMERCIAL SECTION FREE OF
VACANT BUSINESS STRUCTURES
Extension of the Trading Area to
Meet the Demands Of a Grow
ing Population.

The weekly Eark statement is an ex-
cellent criterion as regards city's finan-
! cial status but there are others and one
in particular which are of equal value -
a large property owner comments.
II refer to rentals, and especially to
store property.
1T may be stated broadly that there
are no vacant stores i'm the business sec
ton Of the capital today which are not
already bespoken by prospective tenants
and very few of these pieces Of property
may be found by a systematic search 4
number of individual holdings are being
remodeled. others being enlarged by the
absorption OF adjoining store space. and
sui other entirely new buildings are in
course OF erection for store purposes but
In all cases intending tenants stand ready
to move in their goods Just as soon as
the builders move out.
The same gratifying indication of
Wen sustained and rapidly increa sing
business center may be found in the ra-
alatlhS SIDE streets, where the lower
noors OF former residential property are
oems turned into stores and the owners
or the few vacant ground spaces vet re-
naming are erecting single and two
story store buildings to meet the demand
t LOT such places OF minor business, where
the erection of the larger and more mas
slve business buildings is not as vet war
ranted by tne surroundings In manv of
lne lattef instances, however, the foun-
aatlons and lower stories are. purposely
neaVlly constructed to admit of addi-
tlonal stories later when the business de-
Veiopment OF the respective neighborhoods
calls for these improvements
Small Store improvements.
These minor store properties are rent
ed with the same facility as are those
in the main business section to which 7
have referred and it is the exception to
the rule to find one standing vacant
This is even so in the case of those
owners who have erected these smaller
stores In the uptown residential north
west section on the side streets which
are tributary to the main arteries OF
trade, as off 7th 9th. 11th and 14.h
streets. The rentals of these smaller
stores on these side streets, which NAV
be termed Just around the. corner from
the principal business th1roughfares run
ming north and south, are maintained at
reasonably low figure to invite their
occupancy by small tradesmen, vet are
such that they yield to the investor a
satisfactory return upon the capital en-
ployed.
This fine Improvement in the store
property of the capital is not confined by
any means to the northwest section to
which | have adverted, but it is neces-
sarly the more prominently to be OBJ
served there by reason of the concen-
traton of trade.
'In the northeast section. II street ex-
tending out to 18th is the main bus ness
thOroughfare for the local tradesmen of
this rapidly improving portion of town
Within the last three years and par
ticulary during the past summer. sew
eral squares heretofore occupied in whole
or in part by residences have given way
to the business demands of the vicinity,
while individual improvements of this
kind are as equally marked-:he opening
of the Union station, the location of the
big freight and express houses and the
necessarily large increase in population
by reason of the small army of railroad
hands employed in the yards having given
the northeast retail merchants a custom
trade not enjoyed in former years.
All Sections Developing.
"A trip along Pennsylvania avenue in
the southeast shows the same satisfactory
stimulus to business property as regards
store rentals and improvements as in
other sections of the city, though on Sth
street south from Pennsylvania avenue,
extending to the navy yard perhaps these