Letter To The Editor: Losing A Business To Silver Spring

Today I heard that is relocating to Silver Spring.

This is disappointing.

J. Marie's was a burgeoning new tradition in Hyattsville and one of very few, if not the only place to hear live jazz in Hyattsville. I have talked with the owner and she explained the long and tedious process just to open.

Now that she's open, she's moving to Montgomery County. This is frustrating. Could nothing have been done to keep J. Marie's in Hyattsville? I really don't want to have to drive to Montgomery County and [Washington], D.C. to hear good music and eat good food.

Are their plans to have another restaurant with live jazz replace J. Marie's if we can't keep her in Hyattsville? Will there be allowances for better sign placement? I've been reading a LOT of stories about people not knowing J. Marie's was even there, including UTC.

Does an ordinance have to be changed so these "hidden" gems are more visible? Is there a city program to help these businesses become more visible? 

What is Hyattsville doing to promote these new businesses to the D.C. area that don't carry names such as and Whole Foods? I expect Hyattsville and Prince Georges County to be able to keep unique and new businesses such as J. Marie's which can become names such as Busboys and Poets, etc. 

It is a shame we lost such a unique and promising business to Silver Spring. How are we going to reverse this trend?