The sports retailer opens first East Coast community store in Ivy City.
By Erica Moody
Mayor Muriel Bowser at the opening of Nike store in Ivy City (Photo courtesy Nike)
Nike is bringing athletic wear and jobs to Northeast D.C. with the opening of its first East Coast community store, in the historic Hecht Co. warehouse in Washington’s Ivy City neighborhood.
With its community stores, Nike hires locally and recruits employees from within a five-mile radius of the store through local community channels.
Employees are actively involved in the community-focused mission; as “store athletes,” they allocate volunteer hours to local organizations, both sports-related and not, and work with the community to drive positive experiences with physical activity.
Nike store exterior in Hecht building (Photo courtesy Nike)
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Nike North American Vice President of Direct to Consumer Dennis van Oossanen spoke at the opening ceremony on Thursday.
“Nike’s move to the historic Hecht’s Company Warehouse will help to revitalize the Ivy City Neighborhood while creating pathways to the middle class for locally hired employees,” Bowser said.
“The opening is a win-win for the Ivy City neighborhood and residents of the District of Columbia.
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Inside the Nike community store (Photo courtesy Nike)
“Through job creation, as well as sport and non sport-related volunteer efforts, we hope to positively impact the local economy and inspire the neighborhood,” said van Oossanen. “Making life better through sport – and community – is our goal.”
Nike now has four community stores in the U.S. The others are in New Orleans; Portland, Oregon; and South Chicago.
Visit the D.C. Nike community store open now at 1401 New York Ave, with promotions going on this opening weekend.
