Survivability Rankings for Smoke Shop in Washington DC

2026 ranking of Washington DC neighborhoods to open a Smoke Shop, at a good address, from U Street Corridor (85.0% survival) to Tara-Leeway Heights.

•14 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: October 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

  • Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
  • #1 Neighborhood: U Street Corridor: 85.0% at a good address, 84.1% at a typical address for Smoke Shop (8 ranked neighborhoods share the 85.0% good-address figure)
  • Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 77 of 129 ranked
  • Average across the 129 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 71.9% for Smoke Shops
  • Most challenging area: Tara-Leeway Heights: 66.6% at a good address, 58.0% at a typical address
  • Revenue Capture Score: the most important factor in choosing a location, StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address
  • Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Table of Contents

Summary

Of all the neighborhoods in and around Washington DC, U Street Corridor ranks #1 for opening a Smoke Shop, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 85.0% at a good address and 84.1% at a typical address (8 ranked neighborhoods share the 85.0% good-address figure). Its highest scored address is at 85.0% and its lowest at 80.5%. The last-ranked neighborhood is Tara-Leeway Heights, at 66.6% at a good address and 58.0% at a typical address. These rankings are based on the latest available data; check StreetSpring for real-time updates.


What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Washington DC to Open a Smoke Shop?

U Street Corridor ranks #1 of the 129 ranked neighborhoods in and around Washington DC for Smoke Shop survivability, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 85.0% at a good address as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

RankNeighborhoodMetroAt a good addressAverage (typical address)Best LocationsChallenging Locations
1U Street CorridorWashington DC85.0%84.1%85.0%80.5%
2Pleasant PlainsWashington DC85.0%83.5%85.0%73.3%
3EckingtonWashington DC85.0%83.3%85.0%75.6%
4EdgewoodWashington DC85.0%83.1%85.0%76.9%
5ShawWashington DC85.0%83.0%85.0%71.0%
6NoMaWashington DC85.0%81.4%85.0%63.0%
7Landmark/Van DornWashington DC85.0%80.1%85.0%52.2%
8Sixteenth Street HeightsWashington DC85.0%79.9%85.0%58.4%
9LeDroit ParkWashington DC84.6%83.7%85.0%80.5%
10Truxton CircleWashington DC84.6%83.4%85.0%80.5%

The highest and lowest scored addresses inside one neighborhood can sit far apart, so the neighborhood figure is a starting point. The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, housing vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.

The ranking runs on the good-address figure (the 90th percentile of the scored addresses in each neighborhood). Average is the typical address; Best and Challenging Locations are the highest and lowest scored address in the neighborhood. Every figure is the projected chance of lasting two or more years, as printed in the linked file. See our full methodology →

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.


Where in or Around Washington DC Would a Smoke Shop Make the Most Money?

Where a Smoke Shop would make the most money in or around Washington DC comes down to the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address.

U Street Corridor is ranked #1 for Smoke Shop survivability, at 85.0% at a good address and 84.1% at a typical address; Tara-Leeway Heights is ranked last of the 129, at 66.6% at a good address and 58.0% at a typical address. Revenue at a specific storefront is what the Revenue Capture Score estimates, so check it for each address you are weighing.

Where you sign the lease is a choice you can check against the published scores before you commit. Opening a Smoke Shop in Washington DC requires careful location choice. Across the 129 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 71.9% at a typical address. Our models show that the optimal location profile varies dramatically from one business category to the next.


What Should I Consider When Opening a Smoke Shop in or Around Washington DC?

When selecting a location for a Smoke Shop in or around Washington DC, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. The most important factor for a business's success is the Revenue Capture Score for the business at the location it selects. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. The analysis behind these rankings spans millions of data points across competition, spending, and mobility. Competition density is not inherently negative: it often signals an established customer base. These insights come from StreetSpring's exclusive, in-house forecasting models. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.


Where in or Around Washington DC Should I Start a Smoke Shop?

Our data ranks the top-performing neighborhoods as U Street Corridor, Pleasant Plains, and Eckington, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Tara-Leeway Heights, Arlington Forest, and Waycroft-Woodlawn. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform. The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, housing vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.

Related Articles:


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Washington DC to Open a Smoke Shop?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Smoke Shop in Washington DC is U Street Corridor, at 85.0% at a good address and 84.1% at a typical address (8 ranked neighborhoods share the 85.0% good-address figure), followed by Pleasant Plains and Eckington. 77 of the 129 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

Real-time data from StreetSpring accounts for recent openings, closures, and seasonal shifts that static rankings cannot.


Can a Smoke Shop Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Washington DC?

Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. A low-ranking neighborhood can still contain high-potential storefronts: the address matters most. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.


How Often Are Smoke Shop Rankings in Washington DC Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Washington DC.


Is a Smoke Shop a Good Tenant for Washington DC Landlords?

In U Street Corridor, the projected chance that a new Smoke Shop lasts two or more years is 84.1% at a typical address and 85.0% at a good address, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Smoke Shop in Washington DC

Tenant longevity is a top concern for commercial landlords. In U Street Corridor, the top-ranked neighborhood in Washington DC, a Smoke Shop tenant has a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.1% at a typical address. Pleasant Plains follows at 83.5% at a typical address, while Eckington shows 83.3% at a typical address. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Each prediction is calibrated to the specific address, factoring in competition, housing vacancy, and consumer spending at that exact location.

Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around Washington DC for My Business Overall?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Washington DC to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Washington DC.


Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Washington DC are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for Washington DC

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the figures shown here.