Business Ins & Outs: Scilla + Luna on Book Hill, Orangetheory Fitness, More
By • October 24, 2019 0 1185
IN: MARGAUX POPS IN TILL SPRING
The very comfortable but very fashionable shoe seller Margaux opened at 1251 Wisconsin Ave. NW as a pop-up through next spring. Founded in New York in 2015 by Alexa Buckley and Sarah Pierson, the size-inclusive women’s footwear brand offers a range of sizes and styles. Shoes are made in Spain. It is their first store in Washington, D.C.
IN: SCILLA + LUNA ON BOOK HILL
Scilla + Luna, a store specializing in fiber arts, will open at 1675 Wisconsin Ave. NW in the former space of Cross MacKenzie Gallery. Write the owners: “We are a mother-daughter owned business by the name of Scilla and Luna, a textile loving collaboration.” The business “combines all the things we love and want to share with people who desire and appreciate high-quality handmade goods that are unique and even one of a kind.”
IN: NYC’S TAÏM FALAFEL ON WISCONSIN AVE
Founded in New York City 14 years ago by Einat Admony and Stefan Nafziger, Taïm Falafel opened its first location outside the Big Apple in Washington, D.C. — specifically at 1065 Wisconsin Ave. NW — on Aug. 31. Meaning “tasty” in Hebrew, Taïm plans to open three more spots in D.C. in 2020.
LAST CHANCE: EVERLANE DENIM
The Everlane Denim Counter pop-up will be at 1259 Wisconsin Ave. NW through Oct. 27.
IN: HOT PHO YOU REPLACES SUGAR LAB
Siblings Cathy and Hung Do have changed their sweet shop, which opened last year, into all things pho. Hot Pho You, formerly Sugar Lab, is at 3279 M St. NW. Their enthusiasm is evident on a sign at the eatery, reading “It’s Pho-King Good.” Cathy writes: “The inspiration for Hot Pho You came from witnessing my mother’s love of food. Growing up, nothing compared to my mother’s warmth other than her homemade spring rolls and Pho! My mother’s motto is ‘Where There is Food, There is Love.’ I hope to share this same feeling with my patrons through my food. Hot Pho You is a quick self-service cafe, specializing in authentic Vietnamese cuisine (Pho) and bubble tea.”
OUT: SURFSIDE GONE BY XMAS
Surfside, Bo Blair’s taco stand with all the fixin’s and margaritas, will close at 2444 Wisconsin Ave. NW in December after 12 years there. Another Surfside is slated to open up Wisconsin Avenue at Van Ness Street this month. Blair’s 20-restaurant realm with a Nantucket bent includes Jetties and Millie’s. He also helped with the redo of the George Town Club in 2013.
COMING: DIG (CAN YOU DIG IT?)
At Wisconsin Avenue and N Street NW, the forlorn corner space — once a Little Tavern hamburger joint and then part of Paolo’s Ristorante — was cut from the property with the arrival of High Street Café last year. It will soon become an eatery again, as first reported by the Washington Business Journal. Shortening its name from Dig Inn, Dig has 32 spots, mostly in New York City. This will be its first D.C. location. Dig is described as a farm-to-table, fast-casual restaurant, spooning out grains, cauliflower, kale, chicken, meatballs, tofu, etc., into bowls. The ghost of Little Tavern is so proud.
COMING: ORANGETHEORY FITNESS
Yet another gym arrives, and here’s the pitch: “Between the inspirational coaches, mind-blowing science, and cutting-edge technology, it will be unlike any workout you’ve ever experienced before and one you can’t live without.” All about high-intensity interval training and 60-minute workouts, Orangetheory will open in the former space of men’s clothier Jos. A. Bank at 1815 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Founded in Boca Raton in 2010, the company has 1,230 locations worldwide.
PEARSON’S SOLD FOR ALMOST $4 MILLION
Pearson’s Wine & Spirits at 2436 Wisconsin Ave. NW was sold to Clearview Partners last month, according to Chris Jones of the Glover Park DC blog. A real estate investment company, Clearview “owns and operates a number of liquor stores and gas stations in the D.C. and suburban Maryland area,” Jones reported. “They purchased the building for $3.8 million, along with the Pearson’s business and inventory, for an undisclosed amount.” Former owner Phil Kang will depart. Sergey Nikolaev of Clearview is now managing member of the LLC that owns the business. The tastings will continue, as will Pearson’s Annual Champagne Tasting at Old Europe Restaurant next door. Also staying: store managers Erick Urbina and Brian Hines.
OUT: ANGELICO PIZZERIA BY YEAR’S END
Angelico Pizzeria — next to Good Guys Club at 2313 Wisconsin Ave NW — will close at the end of this year, according to gloverparkdc.com. Property and business owner Mustafa Misirci has other D.C. Angelico Pizzeria locations in Tenleytown, Brightwood and Mount Pleasant.
