The Washington times., 1923-01-31
At 7 RACTS
/. BRANCH
STORES
Rapid Increase in Homes
Gives Incentive to Bust
ness Enterprise.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.

by UEOhUC Ran hL1Ns
Community centers are termed
"the milestones marking the
growth of a city" They also
denote, it has been pointed out,
an important development in the
growth Of civic pride. An illus
tration of these two factors in
municipal expansion is seen today
in the rapid growth centering in
the Mt. Pleasant Columbia Heights
district of Washington.
Important Business Section.
Delightful residential sections, as
they have been since the city strobe
out in that direction under the i'm.
petus of a rapidly increasing popu-
latton, they reflect all of those
healthy tendencies home owners
cherish, while in a business sense
they are assuming an Importance
which is attracting the attention OF
far-seeing merchants.
Already the business development
taking place within a compare
lively short time has caused the
section centering around Eighteenth
street and Columbia road and ex-
tending to Fourteenth street and
Park road to be rated as an i'm
portant factor in Washington's re-
tail business world.
Branch Stores to Open.
But what has been accomplished
already is but a beginning. While
It is true that many Of the smartest
Of the city's smaller shops are to
be found in that section, it is under
stood that other interests will
shortly open branch stores where
merchandising on large scale
will be carried on under progressive
arrangements. Indicating the trend
Of business growth throughout the
section is the attitude Of banking
circles toward its Community in
terests." Recently the Riggs Ma
tiona1 Bank added another branch
to its string of banks by opening
street and Park road. For several
years it has maintained a branch
on Eighteenth street above Column
bia road. Then there is the North
western Savings Bank, at Eighteenth
street and Columbia road, rated
one Of the soundest Of the city's
financial institutions, whose annual
business has shown q rapid and
steady growth.
Those familiar with conditions in
the M. Pleasant-Columbia Heights
section declare that the active par
ticipation on the part of banking
interests is the best possible cri-
terion by which to judge the Sec
tons importance from a business
viewpoint.
Prosperity Unquestioned.
An interesting fact in connection
with the business growth Of the
section is seen in the absence of
failure records. Practically every
business venture in the district has
proved success. In view of the
fact that at present more than one
hundred retail stores are doing bust
ness in the district, the prosperity
of the community centering in the
section is unquestioned.
While particulars are withheld, 1t
is understood that an important in
tereSt is about to be added to those
already centered in the section. Five
residences on Eighteenth street
above Columbia road, it il under
stood, have been purchased by NOV
ing picture interests. The property
extends back some $50 feet. On this
site, it is said. one of the most mod
I'm moving picture studios in the
an effort is being made to have the
alley paralleling Eighteenth street
and running off Columbia road
through the studio site closed. That
this will be effected, is certain, it is
said. as the alley is of little utility
at present.
Backed By Big Corporation.
The moving picture organization
planning the new studio is said to
be the International Theater Cor
poration, headed by NJ. A Winter.
Operation of the studio. it is de.
clared, will result in a rapid growth
of business interests along other
lines in that section Of the city.
Remodeling !of the Knickerbocker
theater and it's opening as the Am
bassador theater, is predicted with.
in short time. Work of rebuilding
n