Kuku Smith’s Battle to Keep Her Beauty Store Alive

Kuku Smith stands outside her shop on Georgia Avenue, holding up T‑shirts that cost $25 each. The owner of a small beauty supply store that opened in 2019 is fighting an eviction notice while trying to keep her business running. She says the pandemic hit hard because she had just started and was not eligible for many government grants. Kuku believes her store is more than a place to buy hair products; it’s a community hub where people can connect. “I grew up in Africa, so we were like neighbors, ” she explains. She notes that the cost of running the shop takes up most of her income, and many customers have lost their jobs. Black women are especially affected by federal workforce cuts, which began under President Trump and have continued to this day. The group makes up 12% of the federal workforce, nearly twice their share of the overall labor market.In 2025, Black women’s employment rate fell by 1. 4 percentage points to 55. 7%, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Other small businesses in D. C. are also struggling as product prices rise, inflation grows, and the local workforce shrinks. Besides selling T‑shirts, Kuku has written newsletters to neighbors, reached out to local officials like Lewis Lee, and set up a GoFundMe page. She recently read a letter she sent to the community: “Kuku’s Beauty Supply is my livelihood and a community hub. I am facing eviction in days. Losing this means losing everything. I have worked hard to build it over the last six years. ” Kuku says any support would help her keep the shop open. She hopes people understand how hard it is to stay afloat and that she is not just asking for money, but for a chance to keep her dream alive.