A new enterprise has hit Silver Spring, Maryland and caught the attention of tourists and locals with its innovative approach to modern picture-taking. Senior Editor James R. Sanders reports
Who knew that a dark room could provide so much vision? Rashon Robinson, that’s who.
His trailblazing business, Sip & Develop is bringing all the light to Silver Springs, Maryland, and it all started with a dark room in his basement with no music. A business that is booked to capacity now, once upon a time couldn’t entertain any of the party-goers, he had at his legendary house parties.
That was then, this is now.
One of the anchors at Great Day Washington, a CBS affiliate, went live for their morning show from the Sip & Develop headquarters on 8501 Fenton St, and the sound was just as big as the light bursting from the walls. The dark room was the center, but the attention had become equally spread throughout the establishment.
Robinson, the sole proprietor stood tall, shoulders broad, melenated — and a voice three parts confident, kind, and conscious he said good morning to thousands of homes that day and introduced his idea that had finally come to fruition.
Silver Spring became the best choice, but it wasn’t the first choice. “The National Harbor was the obvious choice based of its geographical location,” Robinson said. “But available space requirements prevented the business from landing at the Harbor,” he continued.
Robinson felt right at home that morning on TV in a salmon pink blazer tailored to fit his body with a corresponding hat amid a tour bus in the background. That bus is part of a partnership that Sip & Develop is part of. The DC Tour Experience is with USA Guided Tours, one of the largest touring companies in the country.
The tour includes stops at Union Market, The Botanic Gardens, Adams Morgan, The National Cathedral, The Capital Building, The National Gallery Sculpture, and Rock Creek Park. They end their tour at Sip & Develop where they’re able to develop the film they photographed during the tour.
Robinson’s segment, though in the morning, showed a booming start to the day. Each part of the building was occupied with people taking photos or being photographed by a member of the staff.
The commonality and problem that Sip & Develop seems to solve has to do with a common question — how many photos from your phone have you developed?
The idea of being able to print one’s images, gives customers a sense of ownership and customization in real-time that his competitors can’t produce. That’s what makes Sip & Develop such a good idea.
The business allows for private parties, as Robinson explained on the Morning Show. A couple booked the business and shot themselves and used the images as centerpieces for their wedding reception.
“We’d never had that before,” Robinson said to the anchor. “That was fun,” he added.
Sip & Develop is a full experience complete with food and drinks. Customers can book events and check out pricing here.
Follow Sip & Develop here.