With rising rent costs and a struggling economy, Up Against the Wall, a clothing and accessory staple on the Howard University Georgia Avenue corridor, is set to close its doors this week.
One of the original renters in the Georgia Avenue strip mall, Up Against the Wall (UATW) gave back to the Howard community and offered many students employment.
Manager Al Hebron considers UATW a pillar in the community.
UATW arrived at its Georgia Avenue residence in 1988 when the neighborhood was “very dangerous for retailers.”
“Howard Homecoming probably won’t be the same without us,” Hebron laughed. “From the fashion shows to the students who take surveys for their fashion merchandising class, to WHBC, WHUR, hospital fundraising drives, raffles for needy kids – we always participated.”
Howard University owns the commercial property on Georgia Avenue and has been in negotiation with UATW. They settled on a decision deadline February 15.
Some stores have yearly contracts, while others have month-to-month contracts which leaves the vendors not knowing if their leases will be renewed or not.
HU Rental Services did not return phone calls seeking comments.
Sports Zone, an athletic apparel store three doors down from Up Against the Wall, has also been present on the strip for almost two decades.
Thomas Washington, co-manager of Sports Zone, is confident his store will be able to continue its residence on Georgia Avenue.
“Business at our store has definitely been decreasing for us, but it is still fair,” Washington said. “I believe the main advantage that we have against other retailers who sell similar things on this strip is that our prices are much [more] affordable; a shirt that may be $40 at one of these other stores will only cost about $15 in here. I think we’ll be fine.”
When realizing they couldn’t maintain and profit at HU, UATW already began opening new locations.
“The economy has caught up with us. The potential for us to grow at this location is no longer there,” said Hebron who managed the store for 19 of the store’s 22 years. “The economic status of the students has, of course, impacted our business. It’s not as lucrative as it once was.”
Not the biggest store, but globally the most popular, Georgia Avenue Up Against the Wall boasted such customers as P. Diddy and Rick Ross and notable past employees as Angie Ange, Hitz, and Steph Lova – all of whom are entertainment personalities.
P. Diddy, well-known hip hop mogul, and Angie Ange, popular D.C. radio personality, are both alumni of Howard University.
Transforming through its history, Hebron had to make sacrifices to ensure profit and business stability. Upon its opening, UATW had a student lounge in the back of the store offering free hot chocolate, popcorn, tea and donuts every morning.
When the store began increasing, however, those elements needed to be removed to fit more sale clothing. Despite this, the store still helped the community by reaching out to the university and metropolitan police.
“We put a desk in the back for the officers,” said Hebron. “We also opened up our restrooms for the officers who were out on the beat.”
“My baby is gone,” said the manager, sad to sever ties near Howard. “What will be here next is really up to Howard. Hopefully they put something here that will benefit the campus and can be enjoyed by the students.”
Washington notes a change in the community.
“Georgia Ave. is no longer Georgia Ave. Howard Homecoming is no longer ‘Howard Homecoming.’ Everything in this neighborhood is changing. The numbers are definitely not here anymore. It’s not what it used to be.”
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