Ethnic Fiber of Wheaton Businesses in Jeopardy

I've decided to ask one of LEDC's best microloan officers to write my first blog post on Wheaton Patch.  Below is her piece which I highly recommend for all my fellow Wheaton neighbors and business owners fighting for the survivial of immigrant store owners who are at the core of who we are as a neighborhood. 

Best regards,

Manny Hidalgo

Executive Director, LEDC

Ethnic Fiber of Wheaton Businesses in Jeopardy

By: Christina Stockamore
LEDC, Microfinance Loan Officer

What sets Wheaton apart? As a microfinance loan officer with the Latino Economic Development Corporation, I would argue that one of the neighborhood’s greatest strengths lies in the ethnically diverse businesses that line the streets, such as Latino bakeries, Jewish delis, pupuserias, hair salons, and array of specialty shops.  Walaya and her husband Warachart Phutumnong are Thai entrepreneurs who represent this microcosm of business diversity.  The couple immigrated to the States from Thailand 17 years ago and purchased their first home in Silver Spring in 2005. Warachart, a certified cosmetologist, made the business decision last summer to open his own hair salon – Andrew Salon – named after their first born son.  The business owners chose Wheaton based on the proximity to their home, the Thai temple, and the draw of customers frequenting the adjacent Pollo Rico.  All of the Phutumnong’s positive hard work and investment face a real challenge: their landlord recently doubled the Common Area Maintenance (CAM) cost for these responsible tenants. The Phutumnongs are baffled by this unforeseen price increase and are struggling to find a solution.  LEDC values the vibrancy of Wheaton businesses and stands behind the Phutumnongs and other local business owners who may fall victim to predatory commercial leasing practices.  Entrepreneurs like the Phutumnongs are an asset to Wheaton; they are driven to provide services to the community in which they live, the same community where they send their children to school and where they are invested in staying. Without a supportive business climate in which to grow and prosper, this immigrant-owned business and the ethnic soul of Wheaton could very well be lost.