Our Story
MyRadius was created by a small business owner for other small business owners to have better exposure to area residents and so those residents can have better information about local offerings. MyRadius aims to make communities stronger and more vibrant by empowering people with information to be local consumers.
Why these businesses?
DC in general, and the Mt. Vernon/Convention Center area in particular, is a changing, emerging place. The neighborhoods are becoming much more defined and in general people like to do things nearby. These businesses want you to know that they’re here and to get to know you. They want to make your life better and the neighborhood better, because if they do, everybody wins.
Aren’t there some businesses missing?
MyRadius is not comprehensive because businesses elect to participate and pay a small fee. The businesses you see are the ones that want to be seen and want to identify as part of a fun, engaging community.
Who’s behind this?
Joanna Robinson started Lunar Massage in March of 2009 and was frustrated by the dearth of options for local businesses like hers to get targeted exposure to the thousands of people living nearby. All the salespeople pitching marketing and advertising were bringing products that were obnoxious, too expensive, or too scattershot to accomplish what she wanted.
After the umpteenth person came into her studio asking “how long have you been here? I live 3 blocks away and had no idea you were here,” she got fed up. How could she let the thousands of people nearby know about Lunar without waiting for them to happen to walk by? Having always been a map-fiend, the idea struck her that a small map/directory on a postcard would be a great way to give people context for the businesses around them, and in turn give local businesses a leveraged marketing platform that’s classier and more affordable than almost any other option that reached exactly who they wanted to reach: residents, workers, and visitors in about a mile radius. She realized after three years living in the neighborhood, she didn’t know most of the businesses nearby either! So she went door to door in the sweltering heat of the DC summer to meet the other business owners, share her idea, and invite them to participate. MyRadius was born.
How do I get listed?
Email Joanna at and say "I’d like to get listed." Cake.
Can I have some postcards for my apartment, condo, or office building?
Absolutely! Drop by Lunar Massage anytime and load up. Cards are available in stores, coffeehouses, and restaurants in the neighborhood as well.
When did this start?
The pilot version launched in October 2009 in the Mt. Vernon/Convention Center neighborhood in Washington DC with a mailing of the map on a refrigerator magnet to 5,000 households in a mile radius of the neighborhood center, identified as 9th and M streets.
The next version will be released in June 2010 with 5,000 maps on door hangers distributed in households in the radius and postcards available in area stores. New versions will come out every 6 months (Summer and Winter).