Ins & Outs
By • September 28, 2017 0 1163
Amina Rubinacci Georgetown Bought by Company
The Amina Rubinacci company of Naples, Italy, liked the Amina Rubinacci boutique at 2822 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in Georgetown so much that it bought the business from Merribel Ayres, who opened the store in 2014. It is now the first Amina Rubinacci company-owned boutique in the United States.
“I take great personal satisfaction in having launched the boutique on Pennsylvania Avenue four years ago so that Washingtonians could experience the beauty and elegance of shopping Italian style (without the jet lag!),” wrote Ayres. “This is a welcome opportunity to transfer ownership to the iconic Rubinacci brand. No doubt you are wondering: what will brand ownership mean for our customers? The answer is: an even better Amina Rubinacci experience — with a more comprehensive line of clothing and accessories.”
Stefania Ciuffi remains as store manager and Italian stylist and AnnMaria Baldine as senior stylist. Former owner Ayres added, “I plan to be involved as a special advisor to the boutique.”
In: Dockless Bike-Share Companies Gear Up
Within a week, four new bike-share companies entered the Washington, D.C., market: Jump DC, Lime Bike, Mobike and Spin. With apps for each, Lime Bike, Mobike and Spin require a credit card, a phone number and your location. The cost is about $1 per half-hour. Using a lock on the rear wheel, the bikes are released and later simply left by the rider on a sidewalk. (The online agreement asks users to put the bike in an appropriate spot.) Jump DC is an electric-assist bike that riders need to lock to a bike rack with the bike’s own lock. The cost is $2 for a half-hour, but the energy boost sounds worth it.
In: Take a Meeting at Breather
“Conference Room Space on Demand” is what Breather is all about. A Georgetown spot will open mid-October at 1413 Wisconsin Ave. NW, above Redzz Trading clothing store and next to the CVS pharmacy. “It’s a great concept, allowing folks to instantly have a place to meet either here in Georgetown or numerous other locations in D.C.,” said James “Jamie” Connelly of Summit Commercial Real Estate. Founded in 2013 in Montreal, the company has locations in other major North American cities and in London.
In: Chubbies Tuck In on Wisconsin Avenue
Chubbies, the friendly store with the colorful, fun-loving resort and weekend garb, has settled in at 1251 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The shorts specialist arrived in Georgetown a few Christmases ago in Cady’s Alley and returned this summer at 3025 M St. NW as a pop-up with another clothing retailer, Of Mercer. On behalf of the Chubster Nation, the website declares, “Good to see ya, Georgetown.” Good to see ya, too.
In: Wine Outlet on Grace Street
It looks like the Wine Outlet, planned for 3210 Grace St. NW, is moving forward. Less than 1,000 square feet, the shop will be located off the lobby of a condo building at that address. “We don’t expect to have more than 10 people in the shop and tasting at any one time,” said manager Jeff Hancock, who added that the shop will be open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and until 7 p.m. on other days. There won’t be tables and chairs or wine service.
Out (But Never In): Footlocker Deal Off
Footaction, the expected tenant for the renovated Georgetown Theater property at 1351 Wisconsin Ave. NW, has pulled out of the deal. Property owner and architect Robert Bell told The Georgetowner: “On the day of signing a 20-year lease, after eight months of negotiations, completion of contract drawings and construction scheduled to start October 1, 2017, Footlocker downsized its future — and withdrew from the lease agreement.”
Footlocker, parent company of Footaction, sent the following to Bell: “Due to the recent sales trends and reduction in capital, the decision was made not to move forward with the deal on Wisconsin Avenue for Footaction. I am so sorry for all the time and work that everyone has put into this deal.”
“This is bittersweet for me,” Bell told The Georgetowner. “Although I am disappointed not to have a lease for the next 20 years and have the theater in full use, I am optimistic that the theater will have a more inspiring retail business to revitalize the building and the neighborhood.
“Alternative tenants have already contacted me since Friday,” Bell continued. “I am also debating whether I should accept offers from potential purchasers for the theater.”
Bell presented designs for signage on the property to Georgetown’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission earlier this month.
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