As time winds down to the closing of Toast and Strawberries,
after a long residence in the Dupont Circle area, owner Rosemary E. Reed
Miller(middle) goes over alterations with shopper Dena Puskin(left) and longtime
employee Monica Parker. The boutique, located at 1608-20th St. NW, Dupont
Circle, will likely close by the end of September.
“The rent will go up Oct. 1. It makes life very hard, very
difficult It’s the sobering kind of thing that makes you look at doing something
else,” Reed Miller said. “We could move to another location, but I think I would
like to try a new life.”
Reed Miller opened the store, located at Connecticut and R
Street, NW., in 1966. She most enjoyed the diverse clientele. “Within an hour, I
could practice my German, Russian, and Italian,” she said. “People from almost
every state and every little town. We heard many interesting stories of how
people came to Washington. I had a really interesting ride.”
Article reprinted by permission of The Washington Informer
Photo by Victor Holt
