WASHINGTON — Metro riders looking for some Metro bling now have a store where they can buy it.
Metro soft-opened its M Shop retail store at the Metro Center stop, near the 12th Street and F Street NW exit, last week, and plans the store’s grand opening from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, complete with DJs and other grand-opening events.
The M Shop sells a wide range of Metro-centric products, from graphic T-shirts and yoga pants to umbrellas, mugs, coasters, tote bags and more, and may serve as a model for future retail inside Metro stops.
“This is a great opportunity for people to get something unique from Metro, whether you are a visitor looking for a souvenir or an everyday rider,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld.
“At the same time, M Shop represents another potential source of revenue to help support Metrorail and Metrobus operations.”
Metro says M Shop represents a “proof of concept” to demonstrate how retail shops might be put in Metro stations to generate additional revenue.
The M Shop is part of Metro’s relocated in-person sales office, which moved to Metro Center Feb. 26.
The M Shop and in-person sales office are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — two hours later than the previous sales office, at Metro headquarters, was open.
In addition to merchandise sales at the M Shop, the sales office lets customers buy SmarTrip cards, add value to their cards, buy senior and specialty cards and pick up bulk sales packages. Metro closed off sales at its headquarters on Feb. 23.
Metro also sells Metro-branded merchandise online.
And, yes, the transit agency has posted a YouTube video of some of its merchandise.
