Commander Salamander is a fixture off Wisconsin Avenue in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C.
It was founded in August 1979 and originally located on F Street in downtown Washington D.C.
It began as a hip surplus store appealing to trendy young music fans. It was established by; all are still involved in the operation of the store today.
Twenty-three years ago Commander Salamander moved to a small shop in Georgetown and transformed into a semi-surplus store that carried "New Wave" clothing.
"Essentially, New Wave clothing was the establishment of 80's pop culture," said the co-owner who goes by Izzy the Commander.
In the 1980's it served as a hub for the punk-rock scene, where customers could buy records and other music memorabilia.
"Former customers used to come in and reminisce about how the store changed so much," said sophomore public relations major Kehlin Sears, a former employee of Commander Salamander.
Since then, it has transitioned into a high-fashioned shopping experience, serving clients who are seeking one-of-a-kind trademarks.
Mixed among fatigue pants and metallic accessories are unique candy items, toys, and reading materials, like Paper Magazine.
Various brands line the walls of the store like TAG Jeans, Members Only, Triple Five Soul, and Ben Sherman.
The store has been a popular stop for many fashion-conscious Howard University students, like Hadiya Walter.
"I like the variety of styles," said the junior business management major. "You can shop there if you are a punk rocker or just want great clothes," said Walter, who is a frequent shopper at Commander Salamander.
Commander Salamander's diverse customer base keeps the look and feel of the store interesting.
"Everyone and anyone can shop here," said Sasha Bamdad, an assistant manager at the trendy shop. "We get people coming in spending $5 on small toys, and some people spending $600 on hand bags."
The high-volume store can earn a significant amount of revenue on a daily basis, with profits in excess of $1 million per year.
"We sell at least $3,000 worth of merchandise on a slow day and sometimes up to $20,000 on the weekends," Bamdad said.
Many of the items in the store are sold exclusively to Commander Salamander.
"This store is home to Ed Hardy, a collection of tattoo-inspired clothing, which they only sell in two places in the U.S.," Bamdad said. "We were one of the first stores to carry Nicky Hiltons Chic line of clothing," she said.
Employee Keeyah Harris has been with the company for two months and said the store is a great place to work and shop.
"I like the diversity of the store. Our customers are loyal because they see that we always have new and exciting things," Harris said." If we carry unique things they will always come back."
Fast Facts
Location: 1420 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20007 202-337-2265 Hours of operation: Sunday 11am-7pm, Monday to Thursday 10am- 9pm, Friday and Saturday10am-10pm Specialties: exclusive lines, trendy accessories, and alternative publications
