Faithful Customers Mourn the Loss of Sixteen Fifty Nine

For the past eight years, Mike Johnson has owned and run his store, on upper Wisconsin Avenue, offering mid-century modern furniture, lighting, art and other decorative objects. But, after a very slow two years, Johnson says the best financial decision he could make is to close his store. Johnson's lease goes through March; depending on how quickly his inventory sells, he might close up shop sooner. In the week since he announced his closing and the 35 percent price reduction on all inventory, half of it has sold.

Unlike other Wisconsin Avenue stores that have closed, , it is not the rent that is forcing Johnson out, it is the economy and changing shopping patterns in the District. In fact, Johnson said his landlord decreased the rent to try to retain Sixteen Fifty Nine as a tenant.

Devoted customer, Jonathan Capehart said when he got notice of the closing, "My heart sank. I immediately sent Mike an email with the subject line: "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I've never had a furniture store feel like it was all mine."

Capehart said when he moved to D.C. from Manhattan a friend introduced him to Mike's store. "It was love at first sight. I bought four green chairs on that first visit," said Capehart. Since that first visit he has furnished and decorated most of his home from the store.

Johnson initially collected items on his own and eventually decided to open his own store, leaving his sales position in commercial construction behind. When he first located to the 1600 block of Wisconsin Avenue, Johnson explained, it was "the block" for design-oriented stores.

At the time the store opened, "nobody had mid-century" items, but now, though the items might not be vintage, "you can go anywhere to get it," said Johnson. Another problem is that the 14th Street Corridor has become a design-centric area. Johnson said his area of Georgetown just does not see the foot traffic that it once did and it has not seen it "for a while."

Sixteen Fifty Nine former employee and frequent shopper, Mia Meyer said, "with the closing of the store I am losing one of my go to resources for projects. Mike's selections were spot-on aesthetically and also priced so they were accessible to clients with a wide range of budgets."

For Meyer, who owns her own interior design firm, two of her favorite pieces from Sixteen Fifty Nine are "a Johnson's server that I have in my own home along with a yellow Murano lamp that I eyed for months."

Johnson will miss his business at least as much as his customers, "I love buying for the store" he said.

As a delivery person came to pick up an orange lamp, Johnson wistfully remarked that the store was looking so empty as item after item sold. Soon he will not have items to keep the sales floor looking complete, he remarked. But then again, that is the goal.

Johnson said he had been weighing closing the store for some time, but now that it is real, he is not sure what he will do next.

Capehart, at least, is certain of Johnson's future, "Mike is such a talent. Whatever he does next will be successful. I just know it."