For 10th Anniversary: Big Sweetgreen to Open on Wisconsin
Sweetgreen, the local fast-casual startup that went big-time, is preparing to open its second Georgetown location at 1044 Wisconsin Ave. NW in less than month — just in time for its 10th anniversary. The company’s first salad spot, in a former Little Tavern hamburger joint at 3333 M St. NW, along Bank Street, has been closed for renovations.
The bigger space, in a former EagleBank building next to SoulCycle, takes up 2,242 square feet on two floors with an outdoor patio. It will operate seven days a week, from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Started by Georgetown University graduates in August 2007, Sweetgreen recently relocated its headquarters from D.C. to Culver City, California. The company has 64 stores — from D.C., Maryland and Virginia to California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania — and more than 1,700 employees.
In: Blue Bottle Coffee Opens By C&O Canal
Georgetown store manager Kelsey Knutson and Bryan Meehan, CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee: “In a city that commemorates the past and legislates the future, it’s good to take a moment in this new light-filled café to exist in the present.”
Photo by Andy Cline.
Blue Bottle Coffee, based in Oakland, California, opened its first D.C. café July 9 at 1046 Potomac St. NW, adjacent to the C&O Canal. The building once housed the first Down Dog Yoga. The Friday before, the café hosted a friends-and-family day with cups of coffee on the house. Sales benefited Blue Bottle’s local community partner, Bread for the City. On the Sunday grand opening, all coffee, pastry and merchandise proceeds went to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The Georgetown café was designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. According to Blue Bottle: “In a town where coffee inspires diplomacy and filibusters alike, its fold-open storefront with a communal table beckons all to partake in coffee and neighborly conversation. Guests can observe baristas crafting coffee at a standing bar looking toward the brew stations and enjoy pastries, Liège wafels, or toasts in the cafe or on the open-air patio.”
In: Kung Fu Tea Atop Zannchi
Kung Fu Tea Brand Ambassador.Photo by Andy Cline.
A Kung Fu Tea franchise opened a few weeks ago on the second floor of 1529 Wisconsin Ave. NW, above Zannchi, the Korean restaurant that replaced ShopHouse Kitchen last year. The Georgetown Kung Fu Tea is owned by manager Yizhou Yu, who graduated from Georgetown University in 2016, and classmate Eunjung Kim, who launched Zannchi together. Based in New York City, the company describes itself as “an Asian beverage specialist with a selection of tea, bubble tea and other hot and cold drinks, including coffee and slushes.” It’s known for its “fearless” tea varieties, which customers can customize. Oreo milk tea, anyone?
Georgetown Theater Space to Get First Retail, But Not a Foot Locker
It appears that a major retailer will soon be signing a lease on the renovated Georgetown Theater property at 1351 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Some neighbors are saying it will be Foot Locker, the footwear and sportswear retailer.
But not so, said property owner and architect Robert Bell, who also told The Georgetowner, “I wish all my neighbors’ wishes would come true.” Aware of the business buzz, he said he was in negotiations but would say not more. “When everything is signed, I will call you.” (It may be a similar retailer, however.)
The building which had been a theater for decades fell on hard times and was renovated and reopened last year by Bell. The unoccupied first and lower levels measure 120 feet deep by 30 feet wide. Upstairs are offices and apartments. Also, plans are afoot for nearby buildings to undergo similar renovations.
The building is best known for its iconic theater sign with the capital letters, “GEORGETOWN,” switched back on last year and aglow in neon-red for the first time in more than 20 years.
Courtesy L’Enfant Cafe.
Out: L’Enfant Cafe on 18th St.
There will be not French maid races this Bastille Day in Adams Morgan. L’Enfant Cafe & Bar at 2000 18th St. NW closed earlier this month with barely a leg kick. The loss of the neighborhood favorite is a kick in the pants — to a point — for those in Adams Morgan, who see their streetscape changing. The sudden and unannounced closure caused PoPville to exclaim: “What The?!?!?!?.”
