Best World closes for good

Undoubtedly, D.C. has changed dramatically over the past twenty-five years, but a few pockets still manage to hold onto their character and rhythm. Mount Pleasant is one of those places. Maybe it’s the tight-knit blocks or the absence of mixed-use developments, but even the small shifts hit hard. So when the 7-Eleven I used to stop by for a honey bun and a Slurpee quietly turned into a Streets Market, I felt it — not just the change, but the signal that more might be coming.

Just down the street sits Best World, formerly Best Way, where I spent so many childhood afternoons wandering the aisles in search of mangoes and candy, the air thick with ripe plantains and dried fish. It stretches across nearly half the block, bold lettering stamped across its facade — a landmark by size and spirit. It’s the kind of place that becomes part of your mental map, the kind you just expect to be there. 

But after decades of anchoring the neighborhood, Best World closed its doors for good on Tuesday. 

The longtime neighborhood grocery store had been at the center of a two-year rent dispute between the property’s landlord and owners Young Pak and In Suk Pak. In December, the couple was hit with a demand for over $1.1 million in back rent and told to vacate immediately. A fire-sale sign appeared soon after, offering steep discounts on wine and produce as the shelves began to empty.  

“We got a notice from the landlord for a 200% increase in rent,” Young Pak told me at the time. “The owner charged us nearly a million dollars, so I took it to court.” 

The eviction was temporarily halted when a judge noticed discrepancies in the lease and sent the case back to a magistrate. Best World’s attorney, Paul Strauss, argued the back rent total was inflated, citing disagreements over how the lease terms had been interpreted. For a moment, there was hope that the store might hold on a little longer.

In the face of all this, the community stepped up. A fundraiser at Don Juan’s Restaurant was packed with neighbors, local artists, and advocates. There were live performances, raffled artwork, and an outpouring of support for the employees who had made Best World feel like more than a store.

“This place kept my family fed during the early days of the pandemic when big stores were always out of food and public transportation was too scary,” 51st reader Gabe Salkin told us. 

Alicia wrote to say that the store enabled her to “cook Chinese and Korean dishes every week without having to trek out to Rockville for ingredients. Not to mention the access to a steady supply of oyster mushrooms and Filipino mangoes at reasonable prices.” 

Added another reader: “There was nothing better than walking up to Best World on a sweltering hot humid day and getting a coconut Tito’s paleta (and some rice noodles for dinner).” 

But ultimately, efforts to save the store weren’t enough. 

“They kept raising the rent, and there were a variety of disputes that have been aggressively litigated for years,” Strauss shared in a recent interview. “There was a long history between these folks, and it’s unfortunate."

Even with deep roots in the community, the economic and emotional toll of the situation became too hard to ignore. “At some point, you get tired of fighting every day. It was a lot of stress and struggle,” Strauss added. “It’s a shame that we’re going to lose this beloved neighborhood institution. We’re sad. We’ve been fighting for them for years — and we would’ve kept fighting.” 

With the doors officially closed, the impact will likely ripple beyond the storefront. “I hope the community recovers from this loss,” Strauss said. “It’s going to be felt around Mount Pleasant, and it’s a real warning. Smaller retail brick-and-mortar businesses are really an endangered species.”

As we bid adieu to Best World, The 51st spoke to customers and employees of the beloved grocery store. Here’s what they said.

"We opened in April 2011. What makes Best World unique is the international food here. We offer food from a lot of different countries. We’re members of the community and we carry food that makes a lot of people feel like they are at home." - Best World owner, Young Pak.

"I’ve been here for 20 years and worked for both owners. I’ll miss this place and the community the most.” - Melvin Rodriguez, a longtime employee.

"I'm originally from Rhode Island but I've been here 16 years, a long time. I'll miss talking to the people. It's very community-oriented." - Mayra Amaya, longtime employee

“My family is Peruvian and my dad’s a great cook. He likes to have exactly what he needs and coming to Best World felt familiar and was always a special treat. It has all of my creature comforts here. I can get Peruvian ingredients that feel like home." - Erika Nunez, ANC member and freqent shopper

"I’ve been coming here a long time. I’m going to miss this store, it’s close, convenient and I get everything here. I own a small business across the street. I understand. The taxes and rent are just getting too high.” - Ramona Arias