Women-owned boutiques in the DMV worth knowing (part one) | DC Refined

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Georgetown is filled to the brim with places for eating, drinking and, of course, shopping. But there is one boutique that has truly stood the test of time and proven that small businesses can stand just as tall as big box retailers: The Phoenix. (Image: Courtesy Samantha Hays Gushner)

The Phoenix is a fairly cozy, but spunky, boutique founded in 1955. It was established by the grandparents of Samantha Hays Gushner, owner of the Phoenix. Her grandparents, Betty and Bill Hays, first started by going to Mexico, falling in love with the culture--the people, the food, the folk art, the fine art--and then bringing back what they loved most in order to sell it in their store.{ }(Image: Courtesy Samantha Hays Gushner)

<p>Since taking over the business in 2017, Gushner totally redid the look of the space with a renovation that allowed it to have a clean, modern aesthetic with a sustainable model. "Being a brick-and-mortar store, I think it's really difficult to survive in this age [of internet shopping], but that was one of the reasons why we wanted to do a renovation," says Gushner.{ }(Image: Courtesy Samantha Hays Gushner)</p>

It’s no surprise that Rachel Pfeffer ended up going into the jewelry business -- her family owned a jewelry store for years. Her dad, uncles and cousins were all jewelers, and so she became one too. (Image: Courtesy Rachel Pfeffer)

Originally, when she began as a jeweler in Boston approximately 10 years ago, her pieces were clunkier and more abstract. Since then, they have become more refined and simplistic, as well as geometric and minimalist.{ }(Image: Courtesy Rachel Pfeffer)

<p>She has also become more literal, creating sculptural replicas of pizza slices and honeycombs. “I try to make things as playful as possible, so that it’s not just a sleek fashion item," says Pfeffer. "It is something that will make you smile and laugh sometimes, too.”{ }(Image: Courtesy Rachel Pfeffer)</p>

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