(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined the DC Department of General Services (DGS), the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), Fraport USA, and WHSmith/Marshall Retail Group to officially open the new Eastern Market retail store in National Hall at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The 3,544-square-foot store brings the spirit of one of DC’s most iconic destinations directly to travelers by featuring locally made goods, souvenirs, and travel essentials from DC-based vendors. The store also provides a wide range of everyday convenience items, making it a one-stop shop for travelers passing through the airport.
“The local businesses who sell at Eastern Market are part of the fabric of DC, and we’re proud to bring their creative spirit directly to travelers coming to and through DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “This store is about creating opportunity for our small businesses, uplifting local vendors, and giving everyone who loves our city another chance to take a piece of it back home.”
The new Eastern Market store features products from more than a dozen local vendors who regularly sell at the historic Eastern Market in Capitol Hill, further expanding their visibility to a global audience and promoting homegrown talent and entrepreneurship. The ribbon cutting also celebrated additional DC-based stores located in the same corridor within the airport terminal, including Solid State Books and the DC Arts District Store, which offer even more opportunities for visitors and residents to support local businesses.
“We are proud to bring the essence of Eastern Market into this new space and share it with millions of travelers each year,” said DGS Director Delano Hunter. “This milestone demonstrates the Mayor’s commitment to supporting small businesses and celebrating what makes DC unique.”
The Eastern Market store is the result of a unique public-private partnership. In June 2024, the District signed a license agreement with The Marshall Retail Group, LLC (a subsidiary of WHSmith) to bring the branded Eastern Market retail store to Reagan National Airport. MWAA, the authority that operates and manages DC-area airports, including Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport, partnered with Fraport USA to manage the concessions program and, along with WHSmith, to help bring the Eastern Market retail store concept to life.
“On behalf of WHSmith North America, we are honored to be the trusted airport operating partner for the historic DC landmark Eastern Market. As the crown jewel of our expansive portfolio of travel essential, specialty, and coffee concession locations at DCA, we are incredibly thankful to all our business partners at both Fraport Washington and the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority for their continued support through the opening of all our locations, along with our joint venture partners, culminating with the grand opening of Eastern Market here in the National Hall. As a company, we focus on creating bespoke, locally focused concepts that represent the best of every community that we serve,” said Huw Crwys-Williams, CEO of WHSmith North America. “We are excited to welcome DCA travelers into this new one-stop marketplace concept to explore our thoughtfully curated offerings that showcase an array of local DC small businesses.”
The Eastern Market store at DCA is part of Mayor Bowser’s ongoing strategic focus on business growth and retention. The Mayor’s FY26 Budget, Grow DC, includes a forward-looking plan to grow the District’s economy, in part by reducing red tape and cutting taxes to make it easier for small businesses to open and stay open.
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