FEMME FATALE DC RECEIVES CITY GRANT
November 10, 2023 By Omari Foote
Woman-owned shop features products from local [women and non-binary] entrepreneurs
Femme Fatale D.C., which is women and LGBTQ-owned, received a $375,000 grant from Mayor Bowser’s Commercial Property Acquisition Fund (CPAF) to help purchase its commercial property.
“We believe this [is] a really important component to wealth generation as well as growing equity enterprises in Washington, D.C.,” said Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert.
The CPAF is specifically created to help businesses that are owned by a majority-number of economically disadvantaged people and those subjected to cultural bias.
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Femme Fatale D.C. is a women-owned shop-in-shop that features a collection of products from local women entrepreneurs. Its owners have a mission to amplify, support, and catalyze community.
Femme Fatale D.C. started as a party to bring women together, then a pop-up shop, and finally a storefront in Cleveland Park with hundreds of products from ashtrays to woven purses.
Present CEO Cee Smith and COO Adirana Mendoza were initially involved as entrepreneurs, participating in the brand’s first pop-up shops, but came together to purchase the brand in 2018.
Smith, who has a background in angel investing, said that she saw a need for providing financial assistance specifically to women entrepreneurs.
“What I saw with Femme Fatale was an opportunity to help a lot of women-owned brands, female entrepreneurs all at once,” said Cee Smith. “With help, a lot of these brands can flourish.”
Femme Fatale D.C. hosts nearly 100 entrepreneurs in its store. Unlike other pop-up shop models, Femme Fatale D.C. runs the store so the entrepreneur can generate money without being there.
“People thank us for providing this type of space,” said Mendoza.
Acting Deputy Mayor Albert visited the business on Oct. 24 to commemorate the purchase of the building through the CPAF grant.
“We’ve been here for eight years and we have definitely made an impact on our city. Now, our city is making an impact for us,” said Smith.
