Business Ins & Outs: Osteria Mozza, Barnes & Noble, Club Pilates
By • October 15, 2024 0 443
There will be at least two big openings for Georgetown next month.
In: Osteria Mozza to Open Nov. 14
Almost ready, Georgetown. The highly anticipated Osteria Mozza DC will open on Nov. 14, the restaurant group now announces.
Restaurateur Stephen Starr is partnering with Michelin star chef Nancy Silverton of Los Angeles to bring the East Coast version of her Italian restaurant to the former Dean & Deluca space at 3276 M St. NW. Three years ago, Starr told community leaders: “I am confident that what we create together will knock the socks off of D.C.”
Osteria Mozza will include an Italian market, mozzarella bar and restaurant, spanning more than 20,000 square feet within the historic Georgetown Market building — next to the C&O Canal and less than one block from the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street.
In: Barnes & Noble Sets Nov. 6 Grand Re-Opening With Luke Russert
Let’s try this again … Gone from Georgetown since 2011, Barnes & Noble, the nation’s largest bookstore chain, will return to its original location at 3040 M St. NW, having signed a 33,754-square-foot lease for the same three floors last year, as previously reported. The serially postponed reopening date is now … Nov. 6. As expected, the store will sell books, newspapers, magazines, music and gifts — and contain a café.
“Our team is excited to introduce our beautiful store to the community, and author Luke Russert will be here to celebrate the occasion by signing his book, ‘Look for Me There,’ and cutting the Grand Opening Ribbon,” said Barnes & Noble. The event will run 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
In: Club Pilates
Club Pilates is now open at 1065 Wisconsin Ave. NW — above South Moon Under and Baker’s Daughter. It offers a range of classes that are designed to improve your posture, strengthen your core and correct muscle imbalances, creating a strong foundation for movement. Celebrate the grand opening with a $0 enrollment fee and 20 percent off the first month. Book a free 30-minute intro class to walk through Reformer Pilates basics and familiarize yourself with the studio equipment.
In: Spot of Tea … on Grace
A tea shop has made its debut at 3210 Grace St. NW — inside the Grace Street Collective.
The company tells: “A good cup of tea puts you at ease from the first sip. Cool down with an iced Strawberry Matcha after a long day of city walking or warm up with a piping hot Blue Jasmine; a tea break resets your body and mind so that you’ll be energized for whatever’s next.
“We want to recreate that feeling every day for our community by brewing every cup fresh, creating our own unique tea blends, and sourcing high quality ingredients—not the standard artificial fruit syrups and powders. We do this because we believe tea deserves better and so do you.”
Coming: Amorino Gelato shop at 34th & M
Amorino Gelato will take over the space, formerly occupied by the Georgetown Running Co. — and, before that, Poseurs bar — at 3401 M St. NW.
The space is slated to become Amorino Gelato shop, according to contractor bid lists, as first reported by the Washington Business Journal. “The building’s owner, J G Services LLC, recently applied for permits to remake the space into a new ice cream shop, with work to include new doors, hardware, finishes, mechanical, electrical and plumbing.”
“It’ll be the third local outpost for the international chain, founded in 2002 by Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi. From an initial store in Paris, the childhood friends have since expanded their concept to nearly 275 locations globally, including a shop in Tysons Corner Center that opened in June and another in the works at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.
“The Georgetown store will sit on the ground floor of a nearly 2,900-square-foot, three-story building on the busy corner of M and 34th streets NW.
“The chain’s calling card is a rose because the gelato comes in the shape of the flower. Customers can order their ‘roses’ with petals of different colors, including orange blossom cream, mango and red berry.”
Acquired: Solvd Inc. Buys EastBanc Technologies
“Solvd Inc., an engineering software and technology consulting company in Walnut Creek, California, has acquired EastBanc Technologies Inc., a Georgetown software developer owned by Anthony Lanier, the CEO of D.C. real estate developer EastBanc Inc.,” reported the Washington Business Journal last week. “Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.”
The Journal further wrote: EastBanc Technologies, founded in 1999, serves clients in both the government and commercial sectors, relying heavily on artificial intelligence tools to drive results.
The deal marks a shift for Solvd, as it will now allow the company to incorporate AI tools into its offerings for clients in the financial services, retail, health care, life sciences, social media and other industries.
“Through this acquisition, we are pivoting our focus to enable our clients to thrive in the AI era recognizing that the maturity of Artificial Intelligence driven by GenAI solutions is a massive market opportunity,” Solvd CEO Adam Gabrault said in a statement.
It’s unclear how many of EastBanc’s roughly 100 employees, including CEO Philippe Lanier, will be joining Solvd. Solvd did not respond to requests for comment and a spokesperson for EastBanc Technologies could not be reached.
