Tell us a little bit about how you got started?

I've loved Dance for as long as I can remember! I began dancing at 2 years old, and over the years my love and commitment to Dance continues to grow strong. I started out with Liturgical dance at my church at the time, and then I was introduced to more formal training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Modern... I fell completely in love with Modern dance! I began a small dance group at 14 years old with my parents and manager supervising me. That group evolved into a company and when I attended college, I decided to major in dance performance. In 2010, I opened Adagio Dance with 2 students.

What brought you to Hyattsville?

In 2019, I was afforded a business opportunity in Hyattsville, which also relocated Adagio Dance. I absolutely love the Gateway Arts District! I love how the artist and each unique artistic expression is appreciated, embraced, and celebrated.

What are your greatest challenges as a business owner?

My greatest challenge as a business owner is balancing my "Creative" side with the business side of the company. Naturally, I am a Creative, and I love moving freely in creativity and spontaneity. However, being a business owner requires a level of logic, organization, planning, and consistency that I can honestly say I don't naturally possess. So everyday I have to work hard at creating a great company that provides an excellent service, and daily I strive to be a good business owner.

What do you envision for Hyattsville in the next couple of years?

Hyattsville! I'm not always sure that the PG county area, and the DMV knows how absolutely AMAZING the Gateway Arts District is! I would love to help to bring more focus and awareness to the training and development of not only young dancers but also young artists in the Hyattsville area!

What is bringing you joy these days?

I am so happy to connect with so many other artists and business owners! I'm also loving creating interactive activities to keep children engaged and having fun while we are dancing through a pandemic. It's a bit chilly out, but I absolutely love our Magruder Park dance classes! I find great joy and self fulfillment in teaching dance, and creating choreography. I love what I do, and I feel immensely blessed that I've been afforded the opportunity to live out my dreams!

Tell us a little bit about how you got started?

I started working in Architecture, but found that I enjoyed selecting the interior finishes and working with clients on that part of the project so much more. When I started my own business, I decided to lean in the direction of Interior Design while still working on select architectural projects.

What brought you to Hyattsville?

My wife and I wanted to be close to DC without being in DC, and Hyattsville was perfect.

What are your greatest challenges as a business owner?

Juggling a never ending work day and family.

What do you envision for Hyattsville in the next couple of years?

More growth, hopefully without losing the small town feel and connection to our neighbors.

What is bringing you joy these days?

Riding the local bike trails with my wife and daughter.

Tell us a little bit about how you got started?

I was a performing artist in NYC for years. I had residency at a few spots in the city and I also landed a principal role with Negro Ensemble Theater company. I enjoyed performing and also encouraging other artists. That said, as the years went on and I moved away from NYC to DC I didn't want to start over ... which is how Just Rock started. I was offering in home voice lessons, music appreciation classes to schools and still traveling btw NYC and DC for my residency gigs. As the company continued to grow and other instruments and instructors were brought in we started to expand to our own studio space ...

What brought you to Hyattsville?

I actually used to book a band that would open up before me at my DC residency spots and they allowed me to sublet their practice studio. They were only in their space for a short period but I fell in love with the artsy convenient community, so I looked for a replacement sublet opportunity in Hyattsville. In 2014, I was able to get my own Just Rock Studio.

What are your greatest challenges as a business owner?

There are sooo many challenges. But perhaps, having to create revenue streams and marketing them to ever-changing consumer needs. Also, managing multiple artistic personalities since all of my staff consists of creatives.

What do you envision for Hyattsville in the next couple of years?

I envision it to be a continued city of growth. I love the energy and connecting with other small business owners in Hyattsville. I also love the diversity in local Hyattsville business owners and the support of the community.

What is bringing you joy these days?

To be honest, I'm insanely burnt out these days. Life has felt like a war since March 17, 2020. Perhaps, remaining healthy and alive and being able to spend time with my family.

Tell us a little bit about how you got started?

To make a long story short before I opened up shop here I was recording on the move. I'd set up a recording situation in clients homes and work on projects and run my sessions like that. It was cool but I definitely looked forward to the time when I could have an actual place to build. Not too long after that my college teammate Erick (Satchmoe Art Tattoos) and I started looking for a spot that could accommodate us both in what we were trying to do. It took a lot of leg work but 5 years in and things are looking good.

What brought you to Hyattsville?

Okay to be honest Erick and I were looking all over when we first started looking for a location. It was an accident we even came down Route 1 that day, but I'm glad we did! We saw a sign on the door saying office space available, made the call and the rest was history lol. To me the location is perfect, it's in the Arts District and DC is just a few blocks away.

Totally unrelated, but as a kid, there used to be this Caribbean spot next to where Green Owl is, that made curry crab & dumplings so maybe that's the reason we really drove down Route 1 that day lol.

What are your greatest challenges as a business owner?

One of my greatest challenges being a business owner is time management. There's always something that I could be working on at any given time, and when you love what you do, you tend to find yourself wanting to work to accomplish the goals you've set for you and your team.

What do you envision for Hyattsville in the next couple of years?

Growth and more art. I see where it's going and I'd really like Hyattsville to flourish with all the hidden gems we have to offer here.

What is bringing you joy these days?

Haha these days I'm finding joy by making more music, shooting more films, collaborating with more artists and of course being with my son! He just turned 6 months and lil man seems like the happiest person in the world, always smiling, and laughing, that’s my guy!

Tell us a little bit about how you got started?

To honor my beloved memory of my parents, James Henry Ward and Barber C. Ward, and my beloved infant son, Byron Alexander Brown, I established this wonderful, from-scratch, small-batch baking dessert boutique. I create old-fashioned southern cakes and baked goods for enthusiasts who simply adore those unforgettable, well-made, delicious sweets in the form of cakes, chocolates, caramels, ice creams, and other sweet delectables.

What brought you to Hyattsville?

I grew up in Hyattsville after moving from Southeast DC. Hyattsville is my home. I love the neighbors, the arts, the holiness, the kindness, and the support. I was pleasantly surprised to know that this business/arts district is heavily supported by its neighbors and I truly adore operating in such a lovely district.

What are your greatest challenges as a business owner?

One of the challenges that I face as a business owner is being able to consistently come up with new and exciting ideas to keep new and existing clients excited about tasting our delicious treats. Another challenge is getting the word out — in the DMV area — for new patrons to patronize our business.

What do you envision for Hyattsville in the next couple of years?

And the SoHy district, I envision prosperity, new faces, elevated growth, and completes success. This arts district is heavily supported and loved by all who live here and visit here. I’m very proud to be a part of it all.

What is bringing you joy these days?

Putting smiles on my clients’ faces, spending quality time with my loved ones, and creating an unforgettable space in this world.

Tell us a little bit about how you got started?

I have been tattooing in tattoo shops in the DMV over 20 years and wanted to work closer to home. I'm from Hyattsville and with the growth of the area it made sense for me to open a small studio and provide safe quality tattooing here in downtown Hyattsville.

What are your greatest challenges as a business owner?

Some of the challenge has been making the transition from contractor to business owner. I have to focus on more than just the art! My wife helps out a lot in that respect. I'm thankful to have her help. Taxes in Maryland are another challenge! We have some of the highest in the nation.

What do you envision for Hyattsville in the next couple of years?

I definitely see more growth. With more condos being built in Hyattsville and the surrounding areas, I see more opportunities for small businesses coming here and growth for existing business. With that being said, I hope that Hyattsville manages to keep its unique charm and character.

What is bringing you joy these days?

My family and my dog, Piggy. Then again they've always done that!

Tell us a little bit about how you got started?

In 2012, I became the athletic director at a charter school in Chicago and I was having a difficult time finding quality screen printing options for team uniforms/fan apparel. After being frustrated with subpar work, I decided to drive to Indianapolis to take a screen printing class and from there Incredible Designs was born.

What brought you to Hyattsville?

In 2015, I decided that I couldn’t handle another Chicago winter so I packed up and moved to The Palette in Hyattsville. Living in the Arts District pushed me to get out of education and to tap into my passion of screen printing and graphic design. When I started looking for a storefront, I knew that the Arts District was the only place for me and my vision.

What are your greatest challenges as a business owner?

My greatest challenge has been the change since Covid. Schools, team sports, corporate business, and local clothing brands were my biggest clients and everything was at a standstill for over 8 months.

What do you envision for Hyattsville in the next couple of years?

I think that Hyattsville will continue to give areas in DC a run for their money as more small businesses continue to open. I’ve watched this area change since I moved here in 2015 and the foot traffic has grown tremendously since we opened in 2018. I’ve also had a chance to brainstorm ideas that will bring a different dynamic to the area in the future as well. Can’t wait to release the new Creative Saints details in a few weeks : )

What is bringing you joy these days?

Cooking, playing tennis, spending time with my family and friends, and becoming a newlywed on 1.1.21.