Iconic 'Now and Then' Shop Celebrates 30 Years

While many small businesses are trying to stay afloat during these tough economic times, Now and Then is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this April, and residents say it's an integral part of what makes Takoma Park unique. 

Jude Garrett opened her shop on April 1, 1983. The shop catered to her interest in vintage collectibles and Boho clothing and accessories. 

“Opening Now and Then was an easy transition from working for others to owning my own business as it was just an extension of what I was interested in personally—vintage clothing and antiques,” Garrett said.

From the outside, Now and Then seems like a simple shop. The window display shows a couple of cookbooks, frames, mugs and plates. However, once inside, there is a burst of color and an array of choices for gifts or personal items.

“[Now and Then] has a nice selection of unique and affordable gifts,” said Alex Walker, a Takoma Park resident who often shops at the store. Walker said shops like Now and Then add to Takoma Park’s “local character.”

Some of those unique and affordable gifts include bags made from 95 percent post-consumer material, ranging from $5 to $20, Boho-style scarves, ranging from $22 to $28, and a toddler “Obama my first president” t-shirt for $20.

For Garrett, maintaining Now and Then meant adapting to the changing face of Takoma Park. Before Garrett opened Now and Then, most stores in Old Takoma were service-oriented businesses such as a ceramic tile store and an auto parts store, according to Garrett.

“With the addition of House of Musical Traditions, Finewares and then my store, the face of Old Town began to change and become more of a shopping destination,” Garrett said, calling it “an inviting and walkable main street that now boasts many shops and dining experiences.”

Now Main Street Takoma boasts businesses like the Takoma Bistro and Polly Sue’s Vintage Shop, and events like the Farmers Market on Sundays and the Grant Avenue Market, coming this spring. These changes have made the area a destination for families on the weekend.

“As a response [to more families moving into Takoma Park], I brought in more home goods, plus baby and toddler clothing and toys, while phasing out the vintage items entirely,” said Garrett. “Being willing and able to respond quickly to constant change, be it the neighborhood, the economy or even the weather, has contributed greatly to the store’s longevity.”

Most of the back section of the store is dedicated to items for toddlers and children. There are gifts ranging from pregnancy journals – to keep track of precious moments since the womb – to books, games and puzzles. It is not uncommon to see families shopping in the store and having parents read some of the books to their children.

These kind of special memories are what make small businesses in Takoma Park appealing, residents say.

“I think [small businesses] represent the value of the community in terms of the independent entrepreneurial spirit and I think people in the community appreciate novelty,” said Ali Kahn, a Takoma Park resident.

Kahn said she feels that small businesses like Now and Then are important in Takoma Park because of the interaction between storeowners and customers. Chain stores are often more impersonal, while small businesses are “rewarding and interesting,” according to Kahn.

Rather than just a shop, Garrett said she would like to think of Now and Then as a “community center” where Takoma Park neighbors can talk and catch up.

“Whether it’s during the Sunday Farmers Market, the annual Pajama Party that began 14 years ago, or more in-store events, Now and Then has become a ‘third place’ in time where many communities are losing theirs,” said Garrett.

The Pajama Party is held annually on the first Sunday of December and customers who wear their pajamas on that day can get discounts at various shops from 7-10 a.m. Garrett came up with the idea of the Pajama Party initially and it began in Now and Then and the neighboring store, S and A Beads. It now extends to various businesses in Takoma Park. 

The Sunday Farmers Market also brings in more business to the small shops along Carroll Avenue and Laurel Avenue. Many residents come to the Famers Market to buy everything ranging from variegated sweet corn to the free-range eggs and exotic bouquets from a selection of almost two dozen producers, according to the Farmers Market’s website.