Then and Now: Georgetown’s Jenkins Market

Residents on the 3000 block of Q Street, NW, have enjoyed a market in their community for over 90 years. Though the modern world tends to favor larger supermarkets, there are many neighborhood markets in Washington that indicate there is still a niche need they fulfill.

The property at 3008 Q Street, NW, ca. 1920 (left) and in 2010 (right).

Historic image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

The property at 3008 Q Street, NW, became a market on February 21, 1919 when the property’s real estate transfer to John T. Jenkins was recorded at a cost of $10. Jenkins was born in Dranesville, Va. ca. 1874. By 1898 he had established himself as a grocer in Georgetown, an occupation he would practice for 55 years.

Jenkins seems to have had a prosperous and relatively uneventful career, save a robbery event in 1948 when he was attacked. On July 16th of that year, a 15 year old youth struck Jenkins in the head with a wooden meat grinding machine tool in an attempt to steal a bag full of groceries. Though Jenkins nearly fell to the floor in the attack, he was able to seize a meat cleaver. The frightened youth only managed to grab a pack of cigarettes from the counter as he fled. The thief was arrested eight blocks away near the P Street bridge with the assistance of a woman who was about to enter the store at the time of the attack. Jenkins recovered and continued to operate the store until his retirement around 1952.

Today, Sara’s Market continues the tradition of serving the community’s market needs as well as providing dry cleaning and shoe repair services.

The historic images from the Library of Congress below show Mr. Jenkins in his shop.