Inside Lab 1270: Union Market’s hub for small businesses

Lab 1270 is a little bit of everything: it鈥檚 part retail, part pop-up, part art gallery and part co-working space. It鈥檚 a model that Union Market鈥檚 Director of Strategy and Brand Jennifer Maguire Isham calls 鈥渞etail plus.鈥� (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

is a textile and interior designer who makes her own fabrics, pillows and other elements of聽decor. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

Each year, Caryn Cramer produces a new textile collection. She designs her line by hand-painting with ink or coffee on paper and then finishes the design digitally. All of her fabrics are printed in the U.S. on Belgian linen. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

The back section of Lab 1270 showcases photography from local artists and an installation from D.C. Public Library’s Fab Lab. It also houses a co-working space with tables, chairs and wi-fi. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

聽sells聽handwoven textiles from women’s cooperatives in聽Guatemala,聽Nicaragua and Nepal. 聽 (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

Owner Amanda Zehner sells everything from placemats and napkins, to throws and blankets. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

A percentage聽of the profits at Living Threads Co. directly supports the business’ microcredit and training program. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

Stacey Carbone and Sasha West started their company 聽to sell art and clothing that they were making in their free time. 鈥淚 think that is a big message of this place, which is you don鈥檛 know what you can turn into a business until you do,”聽Union Market鈥檚 Director of Strategy and Brand Jennifer Maguire Isham says. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

is a collection of children’s clothes and accessories, curated from artisans around the world. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

鈥淚t鈥檚 small designers that aren鈥檛 represented here in the U.S.,” says Niko + Ava co-founder聽Luisa Kerdel Blatnik. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

At Niko + Ava, you’ll find hand-knit sweaters, leather聽shoes and even matching outfits and accessories for adults. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

started as a small home-brew business in D.C.’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood; this is the company’s first brick and mortar location. Founder Tanya Maynigo-Loucks touts the drink’s health benefits, but isn’t afraid to use her kombucha to make tasty holiday cocktails. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

Clothing designer makes runway-inspired women’s ware at an affordable price tag. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

sells paper, art and furniture at her Lab 1270 space. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

New York-based has a presence at Lab 1270. The brand sells modern, yet classic shoes at an affordable price point. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

The Guerilla Vending聽machine at Lab 1270 has everything from letterpress cards to comical books. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

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April 25, 2026 | A focus on shopping and small business success (草莓传媒's Rachel Nania)

WASHINGTON 鈥� New things are happening at Union Market.

The Northeast D.C. destination is branching away from its with its most recent concept, , located just across the street from the main 20,000 square-foot market space.

Lab 1270 is a little bit of everything: it鈥檚 part retail, part pop-up, part art gallery, and part co-working space. It鈥檚 a model that Union Market鈥檚 Director of Strategy and Brand Jennifer Maguire Isham calls 鈥渞etail plus.鈥�

鈥淸It鈥檚] what everyone wants now. You want to have an experience,鈥� Isham says. 鈥淭he reason you buy things is because you need them, but also because the experience of buying them.鈥�

Visitors at Lab 1270 are definitely in for an experience. At the new concept, one can shop for French-made children鈥檚 clothes, pick up a few pieces of exclusive workout gear and buy a D.C.-made letterpress card out of a vending machine 鈥� all while sipping on craft kombucha and answering emails or cranking out a business proposal.

Sound quirky? It鈥檚 anything but for the vendors who call the new concept home.

Isham says Washington鈥檚 emerging market scene is growing, and Lab 1270 is a place where many 鈥� from the clothing designer to the business entrepreneur to the artist 鈥� can get their start and grow.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about politics anymore in Washington. There are people here making things, creating things, starting small businesses. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to make this city thrive and make this city different,鈥� she says.

, the developer who owns the 45-acre district at Union Market, opened the main market hall in 2012 to great success. It currently houses more than 40 artisans and averages 15,000 visitors each weekend.

Since 2012, EDENS has added , the independent movie theater and Nicholas Stefanelli鈥檚 new restaurant . The development has dabbled in retail before with the popular pop-up , but Lab 1270 is its first permanent retail addition.

鈥淚f these small businesses are here to take a risk, so are we,鈥� says Isham, who adds that the space has been busy since it opened on Nov. 14.

However, Isham is cautious to not focus solely on all things shiny and new at the Union Market district. She wants Washingtonians to appreciate and experience the and the small retailers that have been there for years, such as .

鈥淭here are a lot of things here that have been here forever before the new market came in that we think are great 鈥� and everyone should come and see what鈥檚 here and in these neighborhoods.鈥�

Lab 1270 is open 聽from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Isham says expect to see classes, small-business meet-ups and events planned for the concept in the near future.

鈥淲e鈥檙e open to one and all who have an idea for this space,鈥� she adds.

What鈥檚 inside Lab 1270? Meet the retailers in the gallery above.

草莓传媒