Georgetown Business had a Cameo During the Oscars

Did you see Georgetown business owners Philip Soriano and Pranav Vora during the Oscars Sunday? The duo behind menswear store Hugh & Crye, 3212 O St. NW, were not walking the red carpet, but their P Street store was featured in an American Express Shop Small Ad.

The ad (see video above) played several times during the multi-hour awards show Sunday night. It features a variety of small businesses like an ice cream shop, a wine shop, a bridal salon and a few familiar places like Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street NW and, for Georgetowners, Hugh & Crye.

At about the 32 second mark you can see a rack of Soriano and Vora's fitted men's dress shirts in their office and showroom on O Street, NW. They founded the online apparel company in 2009.

They also play the lead role in the final scene in the commercial at 49 second as you see the turning out the light and closing up shop as the commercial fades to an American Express graphic.

The ad encourages watchers to "make every Saturday a Small Business Saturday."

Sunday night the American Express Shop Small Twitter account asked, "What did you think of our #ShopSmall ad during the #Oscars? RT if it reminded you of the importance of shopping small."

Though we catch them in just brief moments, to supporters and customers, the local business owners and their wares are unmistakable.

Fans of Hugh & Crye quickly took to Twitter to congratulate their hometown team.

One fan, Emil Caillaux ‏@emilcDC, tweeted, "HEY IT'S @hughandcrye and @philipsoriano ON MY SCREEN!"

Vora tweeted later, "There it is again! Love @AmericanExpress @ShopSmall #smallbiz #goodpeople"