The Trump administration mandate that federal employees return to in-person work isn’t being criticized by everyone.
Some business owners and operators near the U.S. Capitol are welcoming federal workers back with open arms, anticipating hundreds of new potential customers.
“It’s exciting at the prospect of having more people back in the District,” said Lisa Kolb, catering and events director for the Hill Restaurant Group and manager of the Hawk-n-Dove near the Capitol building. “We definitely saw the impact that the work-from-home situation, the toll that it took on restaurants.”
Blanca, who runs the Capital Hair Salon on Pennsylvania Avenue in Southeast, said the shop hadn’t been overly busy in the last three years “because we didn’t have many clients.”
“I think we’re prepared,” Blanca said. “We hired new hairstylists. I think we are prepared.”
While details such as parking and a shortage of workspace get worked out at the federal level, business owners WTOP interviewed are ready to start making up revenue lost during the pandemic.
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