Black Friday Then and Now: Hahn Shoes, 14th & G, NW

Historic

Black Friday Then and Now: Hahn Shoes, 14th & G, NW

by Kent Boese • November 27, 2009 9:51 am

The former Hahn Shoes on the southeast corner of 14th and G Streets, NW, prior to 1950 and today. Historic image from the Library of Congress Horydczak Collection.

Hahn Shoes had been a fixture in the Washington area for 119 years when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in June, 1995. Unable to find a buyer, it instead closed its remaining stores and distributed its $2.9 million in assets among its creditors. One of the last eight stores in operation, their store on G Street was closed by the end of August, 1995.

The building is currently scheduled to be the future home of the Armenian Genocide Museum of America.

7 comments — Share	— tags: DC, downtown DC, historic comparison, retail

Then and Now: Surratt Boarding House (May 8, 2009)
Then and Now: W.B. Moses & Sons (Apr 29, 2009)
14th and T heading toward big-box furniture (Oct 25, 2008)
Armenian Genocide museum retail? Yes (Apr 2, 2008)
Armenian Genocide museum and retail? (Mar 26, 2008)

Comments

Hahn's is visible starting at about the 1:10 mark with streetcars passing. Film from mid 1950s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5H2r3AwqjQ

by kreeggo on Nov 27, 2009 10:17 am

Hmmm. I always thought the glass storefront facade was tacked on relatively recently, as it never looked original to the overall building. I guess this doesn't disprove that, as it is kinda a 50s thing to do...

It'll be great to see that building get a use - and sooner rather than later, hopefully.

by Alex B. on Nov 27, 2009 10:24 am

A museum is a good use for buildings like this, especially if they can have retail in the ground-level storefronts. Although I don't know how many stores would want to share a building with a museum of genocide.

Couldn't they use the Franklin School for a museum? Aren't there a lot of groups still looking for museum space in Washington?

by Steve on Nov 27, 2009 12:35 pm

Yeah, street level retail is a must. The Spy Museum does a good job of integrating retail into their building, whether it's part of the museum experience (their store, the Spy Cafe) or not (Zola). The question about a museum concerning genocide is a legit one, however.

by Alex B. on Nov 27, 2009 1:18 pm

This building has been vacant since the Bank of Washington went out of business over 15 years ago. I don't think that placing the Armenian Genocide Museum of America in this building is going to do much for the neighborhood. I would think that this space would be ideal for an upscale, specialty retailer.

by Downtown Dude on Nov 27, 2009 4:21 pm

I doubt that Armenian genocide will draw like the Spy Museum, no offense to Armenians. The area has made a very slow comeback as a retail district and even a Walgreen's would help move things forward.

by Rich on Nov 27, 2009 9:57 pm

A correction. Hahn shoes was sold to US Shoe out of Cincinnati in the 1960s. It was US Shoe that went out of business. The Hahn family owned stock in US Shoe and had a board member, the late Gilbert Hahn who was one of the appointed City Council chairs.

by Carl Bergman on Apr 23, 2010 9:49 am