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.

The Pandemic’s Toll

• Kuku began the store right before COVID‑19 hit.
• She was not eligible for many government grants, leaving her exposed to the crisis’s economic blow.
• The cost of running the shop consumes most of her income, and many customers have lost their jobs.

A Community Hub

“I grew up in Africa, so we were like neighbors,” Kuku explains.
Her store is more than a place to buy hair products; it’s where people connect and support each other.

Wider Economic Context

• Black women are especially affected by federal workforce cuts, which began under President Trump and have continued to this day.
• They make 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. face rising product prices, inflation, and a shrinking local workforce.

Kuku’s Efforts to Stay Afloat

• Selling T‑shirts
• Writing newsletters to neighbors
• Reaching out to local officials like Lewis Lee
• Setting up a GoFundMe page

“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’s letter to the community

A Call for Support

Kuku says any help will keep her 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.