Business Ins & Outs: Skims, Tatte, River Club, Farm Rio
By • June 24, 2024 0 1555
In: Tatte Bakery to Open on July 3
Tatte Bakery & Café will open on July 3 at 1545 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Photo by Bill Starrels.
Tatte Bakery & Café will open on July 3 at the former Capital One Bank building at Wisconsin Avenue and Q Street. The American-Mediterranean gourmet fast casual bakery and café was founded by Israeli-born Tzurit Or in 2007 and has 35 locations.
The company tells us: “Tzurit Or, founder, pastry chef, and the creative force behind Tatte, started Tatte Bakery sixteen years ago in her home kitchen, selling her creations at the Copley Square farmers market in Boston. For Tzurit, building a bakery of her own was about more than just cultivating a thriving business; it was a way to create a sense of home and community while starting a new life as an immigrant to the United States.”
Empty since May 2022, the Capital One Bank property, with parking lot, at 1545 Wisconsin Ave. NW was acquired by Roadside Development and Waterview Capital Management for $3.15 million.
In: River Club to Open on July 6
An old Georgetown restaurant name is back on K Street. The River Club — by David Nammour and Farid Azouri of Residents Cafe & Bar which boasts a Bib Gourmand — is ready to open at Washington Harbour.
“A grand opening is planned for July 6 at the River Club, the new restaurant replacing Bangkok Joe’s at 3000 K St. NW,” reported the Washington Business Journal.
“We’ve been eying this neighborhood, so when the Bangkok Joe’s space became available, we snatched it up immediately,” Nammour told the Journal. The Mediterranean-flavored spot has indoor seating for 106 and outside dining for 34.
Nammour’s father, Bechara Nammour of Capital Restaurants Concepts, which owned famous Georgetown restaurants, also oversaw the River Club at 3223 K St. NW in the 1980s and ’90s. The new place pays homage to the old nightclub, Nammour says.
In: Skims on M
Skims opened its first permanent location at 3300 M St. NW on June 13. The shapewear and clothing store, co-founded by Kim Kardashian, sells loungewear, undergarments, and other clothes, for women as well as men. Skims is a brand that was valued at $4 billion last year.
WUSA9 News reported: “… Skims drew crowds to its recently opened Georgetown location. Despite the heat, shoppers formed a line outside down the street to get into the store on Saturday. … While there was no grand opening celebration, the store has drawn crowds of shoppers eager to get their hands on shapewear, underwear, loungewear and athleisure in the brand’s signature neutral color scheme.”
In: 7th Street Burger
NYC-based 7th Street Burger opened in the former Mono Diner location at 1424 Wisconsin Ave. NW on June 17. The menu features, of course, burgers and fries.
Coming: Farm Rio on M
Courtesy Farm Rio.
A Mexican restaurant has given way to a colorful Brazilian clothing store for women at 3057 M St. NW. The building, once also home to Miss Saigon Restaurant for years, has been renovated for Farm Rio.
The retail company tells us: “We are a group of creatives from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, who believe in the existence of happiness. More than a brand, we create enlightened cultural movements since 1997. Based on good energies and beautiful frequencies, we believe that solar rays enlighten the soul. We believe in all colors and shapes that nature brings to our eyes, to our feelings.
“With over 25 years of history, Farm Rio’s story began when two friends, Kátia Barros and Marcello Bastos, opened a small booth in an independent market. That would soon become part of Rio de Janeiro’s lifestyle, with over 86 stores across our home country, which turned Farm Rio into the most beloved Brazilian contemporary brand.
“In 2019, our journey took us abroad. In this bright-new chapter, our prints landed in many places worldwide, starting in the United States with stores in NYC, Miami and Los Angeles.”
Coming: Tilley’s Pet Supplies
Tilley’s Pet Supplies is expected to open in September at 3216 O St. NW.
Tilley’s Pet Supplies, owned by Drew and Megan Robitaille, is expected to open at 3216 O St. NW in September, the Washington Business Journal first reported and added, “The Robitailles acquired the property, most recently occupied by Tuckernuck, for $2.35 million in cash.”
The O Street spot will the second location for Tilley’s, which first opened in Middleburg on East Washington Street in 2023.
“At Tilley’s, we are continuing the tradition of quality food and products that dedicated pet owners expect to find in an independent pet supply store,” the Robitailles said in a statement. “Watch for our open door this fall.”
