Many Americans are spending less, sticking to their budgets, and some have even lost their jobs due to the recession. Several businesses are going under while others are flourishing in this hard economic time.
Surprisingly, many local black owned and operated businesses have seen an increase in revenue.
Indiah Wilson, co-owner of Oohs and Aahs, said despite the recession, the restaurant is doing well.
“At one point, we were really feeling it, then it went back to normal. Before the inauguration, it was really slow.”
The restaurant serves about 100 people daily and has been featured in the Washingtonian Cheap Eats since 2006. Wilson said the success of the restaurant is due to its loyal customers and good food.
“We’ve had loyal customers for years. We get a few new people, but our success is based on the commitment of customers.”
Oohs and Ahhs is a soul food restaurant known for its flavored chicken wings and mac and cheese. The hole-in-the-wall restaurant is located at 1005 U Street, N.W.
Many Howard students eat at the restaurant, but some say they only eat there on special occasions.
“I love Oohs and Aahs because it feels like home, but I can not afford to eat there daily,” said Janee Morris, a Howard University student.
The average dinners costs $18.65, which consist of a heaping platter with two-side items.
Wilson said to show appreciation to the Howard University community, the restaurant is offering a 10 percent discount to all Howard University students and staff members, granted their ID cards are presented during purchase.
Yvette Greene, owner of Yvette Hair and Nail Salon, said despite the recession, “God has blessed us that’s why we’re giving back to the community.”
Located at 1013 H Street, N.E., the black-owned and fully operated hair and nail salon has been open for nearly a decade. Greene said the salon has seen its ups and downs, but with a new staff of beauticians and a recently renovated salon, business has been successful.
Green said the salon does “so many heads, I lost count. On a scale from 1-10, we’re at 9.”
In honor of Barack Obama, the salon has a current $44 special. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the salon offers customers hairstyles at a flat rate of $44.
“You can get a press and curl, wash and set, perm, jheri curls, flat twist, just about anything you can think of,” said Greene.
Another business that is doing increasingly well is Pinstripe Consultant. Created in 2004, Pinstripe Consultant, a consultant agency that works with non-profits and small businesses providing them with resources and tools, needed to establish their business and to generate more business opportunity and revenue.
Located on 1025 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Pinstripe Consultant helps to develop strategies for sales, sales leads and sales support. They research, develop a plan and manage its execution every step of the way: planning, budgeting, graphic designs and finding clientele.
Rakia McDonald, CEO of Pinstripe Consultant, said since the recession, Pinstripe has seen an increase in clients as well as revenue.
McDonald contributes her business’ success to the company essentially delivering its promise to clients.
“Our main goal and focus is to service the non-profit organizations and small businesses that are getting hurt with the recession. It’s our job to offer them assistance and provide resources for their success,” said McDonald.
In May, the company is looking to expand its service to the entertainment industry. They are looking for writers, artist and composers.
“There is so much art in D.C.,” said McDonald. “Too often, D.C. residents’ talents go undiscovered. It will be our job to expose those talents.”
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