The Downtown DC BID is taking drastic action against our world-class, successful Downtown Holiday Market. After 19 years of incredible growth, popularity, importance, and heroic operations through COVID in an otherwise empty downtown, we were told to respond to a bid on our own event and were rejected. Now the BID wants to hire a new manager to take over the Downtown Holiday Market’s 20th annual event coming this fall. At stake is the livelihood of many small businesses that participated there, the viability of a local event producer employing scores of District residents, and the well functioning vibrancy of the beloved market.

The campaign is prompted by the termination of the market’s contract with the Downtown DC BID under its Director, Gerren Price, and their ill-advised decision to contract with another operator who is located out of the area, has a short track record, has few established relations with local businesses or stakeholders, and has no experience with the management and operation of this key downtown space.  The BID and its operator directly and improperly solicited our vendor list for the event, and misrepresented its claims towards either the ownership of the event or the legal rights to the public space on which it is to be located. 

Diverse Markets Management (DMM) created, organized and operated the Downtown Holiday Market for 19 years, in partnership with the Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID). The Downtown Holiday Market is one of the most popular, renowned and cited events in the Downtown DC corridor.  It has grown in stature since 2005 to become one of the top-rated Holiday events in the country and is often mentioned internationally as a destination. DMM has 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 has been touted by the mayor, council, developers, hoteliers, restaurants, and retailers as an important driver of economy for the downtown area, driving millions of dollars to the businesses, hotels, restaurants located in Chinatown and Gallery Place. We know the market is a valuable public asset and each year creates increased activity and serves as an opportunity to promote a social and economic vibrancy and enhance 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 Downtown DC BID. However, on April 29, 2024 the DowntownDC 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 is no organization more qualified than DMM, DC-based Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) to operate a holiday market for the benefit of all DC residents and stakeholders.

We firmly believe that the Downtown BID cannot legally secure permits nor manage the complexities of the Holiday Market for the benefit of the neighborhood, nor the small business vendors that depend on this event for their livelihood.

Further, we firmly believe that the premise for terminating the market is merely a pretext and that there is no reason the BID could not have The Downtown Holiday Market continue under DMM operations.

We are taking necessary actions legally to attempt to prevent this hostile takeover of our business. 

We thank you for your support and active involvement. Please write to the following representatives to tell them 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 employ more than 40 people and contract out another 20 or more during the markets run. Most will lose their jobs if DowntownDC BID steals our business. More than 85 vendors may not be able to participate, depriving them of a crucial means to sustain their business and exposure to tens of thousands of customers. 

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]

We demand that the DC BID and DC government officials help Keep the Holiday Market for DC, and retain its vendor base, its seasoned operator, and maintain the community’s enjoyment of this seminal annual event on F Street NW.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 

Michael Berman
President | Diverse Markets Management
www.diversemarkets.net | 202.215.6993 | @Diversemarkets