To the Editor:
I lament the closing of small, boutique shops in Old Town like Why Not. But there is one element that wasn't mentioned that I believe contributes to the failure of these little places: their hours. If a store closes before most people get home from work or before dinner or happy hours end, they most likely will lose the business of working women and men. I can't count the number of times we visited Old Town for dinner, decided to walk, and ended up only window shopping or visiting the chain stores because the boutique shops were all closed.
Quirky Old Town businesses: please stay open into the evenings. You'll gain more frequent trips from this working mom.
A. Sharman
Alexandria