Small Business, The Village DC, Prioritizes Community and Small Businesses Alike On Their Path To Recovery

Today, The Village DC is up and running offering fresh cappuccinos and delicious eats. The Village DC had been in operation for a little over a year when COVID-19 struck in March of 2020. Their rapid growth came to a sudden stop. “It felt as though time stood still and we were not sure what the future would look like”, King shared. 

Their regular customers could no longer visit the Village DC’s cafe, upcoming events in their event space, which they’ve named The Lab, were cancelled, and they had to furlough all five employees. In the midst of the chaos, Kevon, Mahammad and Ryan regrouped around their mission for the Village DC--bringing the community together. 

Founders Ryan Williams, Mahammad Mangum, and Kevon King (left to right). Photo courtesy of the Village DC.

Kevon King, Mahammad Magnum, and Ryan Williams, sought to create a communal incubation space where creativity and food would come together. In 2018, their idea came to life; launching the Village DC. Located in Union Market, the Village DC operates in two parts: on one side is the Village cafe, which offers delicious foods, and fresh coffee. On the other side is The Lab, an open space to host events that aim to elevate local voices and bring the community together. To date, the Village DC has hosted over 100 events, ranging from film screenings, to art exhibitions, community drives, small business popup markets and more. 

One year in, the Village DC was blazing forward--seeing steady growth and consistently engaging the community along the way. LISC had the opportunity to connect with them when they first opened: check out "A Q&A with The Village Cafe". As native Washingtonians, Kevon, Mahammad and Ryan prioritized bringing residents into the fold early on. The entrepreneurs grew up together, east of the Anacostia River, in Southeast DC. Seeing the stark difference in access to resources and opportunities motivated them to start the business.  

The Village DC was deemed an essential business. Thus, despite the devastating impact on all the businesses in Union Market and across the district, they did not have to shut their doors. Instead, their cafe was reduced to limited capacity. Staying open, however, presented its own challenges. Remaining open required businesses to follow specific guidelines to keep themselves and their customers safe. The critical safety measures resulted in new expenses to the Village DC, while they worked tirelessly to mitigate lost revenue. 

To support small businesses like the Village DC, LISC launched The Rapid Relief and Resiliency Fund, which raises private and public dollars to target historically underserved communities. Through funding from the Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund, LISC awarded the Village DC with a $12,000 grant to support their operational costs in the fall of 2020. “This grant was a lifeline in a time of uncertainty,” King expressed. They used the grant to pay for rent, and sustain regular operations as the world slowly started opening back up. 

Pictured is the event space called The Lab. Photo courtesy of the Village DC.

The momentum did not stop there. Now operating as a three-man team, the Village DC adjusted their menu to better accommodate take-out orders, and they collaborated with the DC Fridge Collective to distribute food to vulnerable residents across the city. They also launched a new initiative in summer of 2020 called Neighbors, a weekly pop-up located in the Village DC’s event space featuring eight to ten local vendors each week, with a focus on supporting Black-owned businesses. 

Kevon shared that the Village DC team takes particular pride in the Neighbors initiative, which was created in response to the economic instability caused by the pandemic. Like many communities across the country, they saw people losing their jobs and seeking out alternative means of making a living; for many that meant entrepreneurship. Through the Neighbors, the Village DC works with over 50 vendors, providing a major opportunity for small businesses owners to market their products to a new audience and hold space for the larger community to come together. 

Pictured are different vendors and customers at the Neighbors pop-up. Photo courtesy of the Village DC.

The past year and a half has called for quick thinking, adaptability, and community collaboration. “The two biggest takeaways from this past year is that preparation is power, and relationships are everything,” Kevon said reflecting on the collaborations that got his team through 2020. Kevon explained that in addition to grant dollars provided by LISC and others, their connection with fellow business owners within the DC ecosystem helped them overcome many of their challenges, including staying in the know as critical information changed daily. 

Their commitment to their neighbors and agility in the face of constant change exemplify resiliency and make the Village DC a model for other businesses fighting for growth at a challenging time. Learn more about the Village DC here and stay up to date on their latest initiatives.