The Washington Post has an article about Walmart’s solicitation for local businesses to co-locate with the Georgia Ave. Walmart, which lies approximately 1.5 miles from the Walmart planned for Riggs Park.  Walmart’s spokesperson Steve Restivo stated that if the retailer cannot find sufficient local businesses to occupy one or two spaces for lease, it will find a national chain.  Links to the square footage and design of the space are provided within the article.  It will be noteworthy to see which local business, if any, ends up leasing space at the Georgia Ave Walmart.

In community meetings with respect to the Walmart planned as an anchor for Fort Totten Square in Riggs Park, Walmart representatives have stated that they would be open to providing space to a local business.  It was unclear at the time (and still unclear now) precisely where that space would be–whether in the interior of the store with no access to the frontage along the street or whether there would be signage on the street promoting the interior tenant.  A point has been raised about making sure the design would accommodate a local business by providing adequate street frontage.  Construction continues apace and full financing for Fort Totten Square has been secured.

Now’s a good time to revisit the design as JBG & Lowe reach out to retailers to fill out FTS and continue discussions with the city to secure the south site to begin work there.  The Lamond Riggs Citizens Association has certainly made local retail a priority in discussions with JBG, Lowe, & Walmart.  Let’s hope local and aspiring business owners will be ready to take advantage of an opportunity to open up shop in 2015.