The campaign to Keep the Downtown Holiday Market for DC will conclude.
WASHINGTON, DC (August 10, 2024) --
The campaign to Keep the Downtown Holiday Market for DC will conclude.
The Downtown DC BID (BID) under its Director, Gerren Price, seems to have contracted with another operator, located out of the area that has few established relations with local businesses or stakeholders and has no experience with the management and operation of this key downtown space. We believe the BID directly and improperly solicited our vendor list for the event and misrepresented its claims towards their purported ownership of the event.
Diverse Markets Management (DMM) created, organized and operated the Downtown Holiday Market for 19 years, in partnership with the Downtown DC Business Improvement District. The Downtown Holiday Market became one of the most popular, renowned and cited events in the Downtown DC corridor. It grew in stature since 2005 to become one of the top-rated Holiday events in the country and was often mentioned internationally as a destination. DMM built this event into a sought-after venue for small businesses and has spearheaded this acclaim. The 2023 Holiday Market attracted more than 200,000 visitors during its five-week run and earned more than 7.2 million media impressions online, in print, live and recorded TV. It had been touted by the mayor, council, developers, hoteliers, restaurants, and retailers as an important driver of economy for the downtown area, of Chinatown and Gallery Place. We believe we created a valuable public asset that increased activity, served as an opportunity to promote social and economic vibrancy, and enhanced the place-making strategies in the corridor.
What changed…
DMM was committed to operating the 20th annual Downtown Holiday Market again in partnership with the BID. However, on April 29, 2024, the BID decided not to move forward with DMM for the 2024 Downtown Holiday Market and terminated the Service Agreement dated November 8, 2022. We do not know the reason for that decision. We do know that our city, its small business participants, and the area stakeholders greatly benefit each year from a holiday market that regularly attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and generates great economic activity downtown. With a track record of 19 years of successful operation of this market, there was no organization more qualified than DMM, a DC-based Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) to operate a holiday market for the benefit of all DC residents and stakeholders.
We know how important the locally operated Downtown Holiday Market is to the city, socially, culturally and economically and how important protecting a DC business is for the viability of the DC economy, business incubation and for employment. We regret the severe negative impact to our small business community and to our more than 40 employees and contractors that were dedicated to working during the market. We thank the more than 900 petition signers and concerned DC citizens who wrote letters on our behalf. We have determined to bring our talents, expertise and place-making skills to an alternate neighborhood in this city. More information will be forthcoming. We appreciate all the support and outpouring of consolation and assistance.
Michael Berman
President & CEO | Diverse Markets Management Corp.
CC:
o The Mayor [eom@dc.gov], [muriel.bowser@dc.gov],
o Council Chair Phil Mendelson [pmendelson@dccouncil.gov]
o Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto [BPinto@dccouncil.us],
o At Large Council member Kenyan McDuffie [kmcduffie@dccouncil.gov]
o At Large Council member Robert White [rwhite@dccouncil.gov]
o Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Director Nina Albert [Nina.Albert@dc.gov]
o Downtown DCBID Director Gerren Price [Gerren@downtowndc.org]
o Downtown DCBID Board of Director Chairman Michael McCarthy