From Metro map t-shirts to “foggy bottom” bottoms, WMATA is testing out a new way to bring in money.
The transit agency is opening a store inside of a train station and slapping its logo on clothes, bags, and other merchandise.
The “M Shop” opens on Wednesday at Metro Center Station.
“It has the street signs. It has the maps. I like the bag the girl was wearing. I like the pants she had that had the signs going down,” Jenna Shernesky said after watching the YouTube ad. “I thought it had a nice vibe to it.”
Aside from clothes, metro is peddling umbrellas, dishes, coasters, and even cell phone cases.
All of the items are decked out with DC train maps and metro logos.
This is not your typical store.
At 12th and F Streets downtown, the M Shop is down the escalators and inside of the Metro Center train station.
Instead of walking into a physical store, you walk up to a window to place your order.
“I don’t know about that aspect. That takes away a lot of the interest,” Tiffany Davis told WUSA9.
Metro said the store is a new way to rake in money and demonstrate how different retail shops might work in other stations.
“I think it’s just for the tourists,” Brittany Johnson said. “I don’t think anybody who lives in DC or from DC would get that.”
The new store announcement came with some pushback from riders.
“It’s hard to support something when we’re met with like delays and being late to work and school,” Shania Johnson explained.
Some people posted about their frustrations online, and others gave sarcastic opinions about what the transit agency should be selling instead.
“When you spend on average about 15 dollars a day getting back and forth to work — the buses and the train, you’re not going to sit here and pay 10, 15, 20 dollars for a t-shirt,” Shania Johnson said.
As Metro works to repair its stained reputation, the agency believes this is a step in the right direction.
The grand opening celebration is scheduled for Wednesday at Metro Center train station at 11:00 a.m.
The store will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Shop merchandise can also be viewed online at wmata.com/mshop.
