Staying in Your Own Backyard

[Tujague]

Joe H. recently asked in a posting on Fiola Mare whether people in "new" neighborhoods like Barracks Row, Shaw, and 14th St. are more likely to stay in their own backyards rather than venture out to experience other areas. I questioned this assertion with some offense, but this new study suggests that there may be something to that question after all. The basic finding is that the higher the percentage of same-sex couples in a neighborhood (a "gayborhood"), the gay men in that area tend to travel shorter distances out of it; even lesbians and straights tend to travel shorter distances than those who live in neighborhoods with fewer same-sex couples, though not at as high a rate. Given that DC has one of the highest percentages of same-sex couples in the country, and many of them are moving into and living in these "new" neighborhoods, it may be absolutely true that there is more of a "stay-close-to-home" phenomenon going on here. If this is so, the impact on restaurants would seem to be strong. Of course, one could ask if this is a chicken-or-egg phenomenon: Is it more true that businesses draw these demographics, or that the demographics draw the businesses. Still, this suggests anyone wanting to develop a "neighborhood" restaurant might want to see which areas have the higher densities of same-sex--particularly gay male--populations in order to target a local audience. And yeah, I was wrong.

[DaveO]

That is interesting.  I enjoy the atlantic monthly and its various associated media.  It has always been a thought provoking publication.   One tiny anecdotal note;  from the perspective of the bar school that has been staffing all sorts of places for decades;  there has been a relatively scarce number of lesbian clubs relative to gay mens clubs over many years.   While a tiny issue it is reflective of having to travel further for one group of folks.

In one context the research and theory reflects ethnic patterns in US cities for decades and decades and certainly reflects back on a period from the beginning of the 20th century to WWII within certain metropolitan regions.

Its interesting research.  It does suggest that restaurants take note of these trends.

Meanwhile people should explore other areas as Joe has referenced, imho.

As a sidenote, @Tujague:   I was part of the leasing team for what was considered a hot dynamic property back in the beginning of the 1980's;  Georgetown Park.  It never met expectations, and actually did poorly as a property and a draw to shoppers.  Its most recently been completely changed in character.

In any case the character of folks that spent time in Georgetown then was very similar to how you characterized them now.  It hasn't changed significantly imho.   Still its an historic area;  its quaint and attractive and the waterfront is a very attractive draw.