On a brisk October afternoon, the smell of seafood will drift down Georgia Avenue as crowds make their way toward Yardfest. From behind the counter at The Crab Plug, owner Antonio Powell prepares to watch people spill into the streets. The sight was unexpected last year, but this time the seafood restaurant is ready.
“We did one Howard Homecoming so far, and we weren’t prepared for the rush,” Powell said.
Each year, Howard University’s Homecoming brings thousands of alumni, students and visitors to the area, turning the surrounding blocks into a hub of celebration and commerce. The surge of activity spikes revenue for many local businesses and vendors, many of which have ties to the Howard community.
Bryndan D. Moore is a 1996 Howard graduate and member at large of the Howard University Alumni Association. For the past three years, he has served in executive board positions for the global Howard University alumni community.
“It’s a big financial boom for the city of D.C. because when alumni come back, we spend money,” Moore said. “We fly, we spend money on Uber. We spend money on restaurants, we spend money on hotels, we spend money on events and we spend money at Howard.”
Homecoming brings local vendors, shops and small businesses to campus for a weekend of fun and festivities. In recent years, food trucks like Rice on Wheels, Jerk at Nite and Pakos Fresh Mex have made an appearance.
MK Lounge, one of the area’s Black-owned nightlife establishments, has seen Homecoming’s economic ripple firsthand. The U Street location opened recently, while its 9th Street location opened 10 years ago, making it the first Black-owned lounge in the area.
“Because of what’s going on in the city right now— the curfew and the military enforcing stuff in the street— I know it’s not a lot to expect, but we will cross our fingers and hope that we get more people than we saw last year,” said Derege Zewdie, owner of MK Lounge.
Zewdie said Homecoming consistently brings in great revenue for his business, and the team is ready to welcome the crowds. Last year’s events were more challenging because of street closures, forcing people into the street and away from bars and lounges.
“There were over 3,000 people on the street, but they were not coming inside the businesses… Hopefully, this year it will be a little different, and I am hoping it will get better,” Zewdie said.
Up Georgia Avenue, Karen Sellers, owner of Here’s the Scoop since June 2019, said Homecoming is always great for her business and she also looks forward to the busy weekend.
“Since our first year at Howard’s Homecoming, it’s simply been amazing for business. We’re usually busy the whole week. But for the two days Homecoming is celebrated, we’re extremely busy,” Sellers said.
Here’s the Scoop, across from Charles R. Drew Hall, is the first Black women-owned ice cream shop in D.C. It was also named the number one Black-owned ice cream shop on a Yelp top ten list.
“To be able to continue to make it in a time where the struggle’s real, I just think that is an important period,” said Sellers, a D.C. local whose family members have studied at Howard University.
A few blocks north of Here’s the Scoop, Powell at The Crab Plug said Howard University is embedded into the culture of D.C., and people in his community have looked forward to Homecoming since he was a kid.
Homecoming has always been a part of his life, even before he became a business owner.
“My mom worked at Howard University Hospital. Being a part of the community, Howard was always a thing. It was the nearest university from the neighborhood I grew up in, so anytime they had a big event, we would hear about it and try to attend,” Powell said.
Although the Crab Plug has only been open for about 15 months, Powell said the turnout during Homecoming weekend in 2024 brought hundreds of people through the doors. This is a tradition he hopes continues.
He expects the same this year and wants to encourage more Howard students, faculty and alumni to dine with them through new specials.
The Georgia Avenue strip has many Black owned businesses, including book stores, restaurants and beauty supply stores.
“This is a predominantly Black neighborhood, so it is important for us to have ownership and our own business here. Being at this location, considering that I grew up in the neighborhood, it does have extra meaning to me,” Powell said.
Copy edited by Damenica Ellis
