Save Remix (formerly Mustard Seed)
Donation protected
Some of you may know me, but to those of you who don’t, my name is Derek Kennedy and I am the owner of Remix Recycling Co. in Bethesda, Maryland. I started this business in 1991 with my then-business partner, Gayle. We started out as a used-clothing store called Mustard Seed, with the intent of providing unique, affordable fashion to all types of people. Our mission is, and always has been, to let people feel good and express themselves through clothing.
In November 2016, I bought out Gayle to become the sole owner; in order to do so, I had to deplete the majority of my savings, as well as take out a loan. After buying her out, I decided to change the name of the store to Remix Recycling Co. The new name symbolizes the spirit and ingenuity of our customers, who “remix” items of clothing from our store - perhaps pairing one person’s shoes with another’s shirt - to create a totally new, unique look. We want to continue to encourage this creativity and personal expression, which is why I am asking for your help.
Unfortunately, as soon as I bought out Gayle, sales began to decline almost immediately. There may be many reasons for this. Perhaps changing the name was not such a good idea; instead of just a name change, people may have thought that Mustard Seed went completely out of business, and had no interest in checking out the “new” store. Additionally, the large office building down the street from us, which housed the United Artists Theatres, was torn down, fueling the rapid increase in construction all around us, drastically reducing the foot traffic and hurting our business.
After the loan payment and rent every month, there isn’t much money left for anything else. Before the end of the year, I will have to pay several bills which I don’t have the money for; our property tax is $6,334; our yearly store insurance payment, due September 17th, is another $2,000. In addition to all the bills, we are going to have to move. Our lease expires June 1st, and after 22 years in this location, we can no longer afford to be here. I have asked our landlord for rent relief, but that didn’t work out. However, I am dedicated to continuing to operate this business, although I will no longer be able to do so in the current space.
My employees love working here; most of them have been shopping with us since they were teenagers. It’s almost an understatement to say that our staff is like a family - they have grown up with us, had kids with us, and stuck with me through it all. They do know that we are struggling financially, but none of them want to leave. I haven’t been able to give any of them a raise this year, although I did give them all a Christmas bonus, which I couldn’t afford.
Over the years, we have become a local landmark, both in terms of our building’s historic status, and in terms of locals’ connections to us: our neighbors love to tell stories about our history and changes, and how they’ve been shopping with us since they were kids.
I want to continue to make this place a home for customers, where they can find fashion that makes them feel empowered at fair prices, and to help sellers earn extra money while cleaning out their closets. I don’t want to close Remix; it has been my life for 27 years now. But I can’t keep Remix open without your help.
In November 2016, I bought out Gayle to become the sole owner; in order to do so, I had to deplete the majority of my savings, as well as take out a loan. After buying her out, I decided to change the name of the store to Remix Recycling Co. The new name symbolizes the spirit and ingenuity of our customers, who “remix” items of clothing from our store - perhaps pairing one person’s shoes with another’s shirt - to create a totally new, unique look. We want to continue to encourage this creativity and personal expression, which is why I am asking for your help.
Unfortunately, as soon as I bought out Gayle, sales began to decline almost immediately. There may be many reasons for this. Perhaps changing the name was not such a good idea; instead of just a name change, people may have thought that Mustard Seed went completely out of business, and had no interest in checking out the “new” store. Additionally, the large office building down the street from us, which housed the United Artists Theatres, was torn down, fueling the rapid increase in construction all around us, drastically reducing the foot traffic and hurting our business.
After the loan payment and rent every month, there isn’t much money left for anything else. Before the end of the year, I will have to pay several bills which I don’t have the money for; our property tax is $6,334; our yearly store insurance payment, due September 17th, is another $2,000. In addition to all the bills, we are going to have to move. Our lease expires June 1st, and after 22 years in this location, we can no longer afford to be here. I have asked our landlord for rent relief, but that didn’t work out. However, I am dedicated to continuing to operate this business, although I will no longer be able to do so in the current space.
My employees love working here; most of them have been shopping with us since they were teenagers. It’s almost an understatement to say that our staff is like a family - they have grown up with us, had kids with us, and stuck with me through it all. They do know that we are struggling financially, but none of them want to leave. I haven’t been able to give any of them a raise this year, although I did give them all a Christmas bonus, which I couldn’t afford.
Over the years, we have become a local landmark, both in terms of our building’s historic status, and in terms of locals’ connections to us: our neighbors love to tell stories about our history and changes, and how they’ve been shopping with us since they were kids.
I want to continue to make this place a home for customers, where they can find fashion that makes them feel empowered at fair prices, and to help sellers earn extra money while cleaning out their closets. I don’t want to close Remix; it has been my life for 27 years now. But I can’t keep Remix open without your help.
Organizer
Derek S. Kennedy
Organizer
Bethesda, MD
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