Business Ins & Outs: Allbirds, EverFi Expands & more
By • September 25, 2019 0 1097
IN: ALLBIRDS FLYING IN
Looks like Allbirds shoes will be taking over the shuttered Ben & Jerry’s at 3135 M St. NW. The business — whose slogan is “the world’s most comfortable shoes” — will take over the 3,696-square-foot space on two levels of the building, according to the Washington Business Journal. The property owner is Georgetown Electric Company (formerly at that spot; its sign in the back can still be seen from the alleyway), and about 30 years ago the upstairs held the production office of The Georgetowner. News outlets also are reporting that next door at 3131 M St. NW Johnny Rockets is set to depart, as the lease for the property is being advertised.
MOVED: EVERFI EXPANDS
Founded 10 years ago in Georgetown on Potomac Street, fast-growing EverFi, a leading education technology provider, celebrated its new digs at 2300 N St. NW with friends, family and employees — along with Mayor Muriel Bowser, Kenan Thompson of “Saturday Night Live” and Georgetown and NBA star Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams. Said EverFi co-founder and CEO Tom Davidson: “Ten years ago, EverFi was founded in a small D.C. row house with the idea that we could harness innovative, digital education to engage learners around some of the country’s most intractable issues, including financial illiteracy, student loan debt, sexual harassment and violence and workforce access.”
OUT: MONO DINER; ‘WAGE THEFT’ ALLEGED
After opening in March, Mono Diner at 1424 Wisconsin Ave. NW never quite took off and closed in August. Amid the financial problems incurred by owners Mohammad Esfahani and Ebrahim Esfahani, who own All About Burger, are allegations of wage theft from former Mono Diner employees. A former manager of the restaurant, Charles Ordoqui, says he was told to withhold employee’s last paychecks. The Esfahani brothers deny this — and the D.C. branch of the Industrial Workers of the World is now involved to help the laid-off employees get their full paychecks.
OUT: GEORGETOWN SCOOPS
This favorite place for ice cream, sorbet, gelato and Vietnamese coffee at 2818 Pennsylvania Ave. NW abruptly closed last week.
Daniel Hong, the proud new owner of Scheele’s Market.
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT: SCHEELE’S MARKET
Donguk Kim, owner of Scheele’s Market for seven years, has sold the business to Daniel Hong. Located at 1331 29th St. NW, the neighborhood grocery store that seems to have everything one needs is more than 120 years old. Thank you, Mr. Kim, for your dedication to Georgetown, as well as your cheerful manner and great customer service. And welcome, Mr. Hong. The store remains the same, with a few additions that include sushi.
10TH ANNIVERSARY: LUKE’S LOBSTER
Just in time for National Lobster Day, Sept. 25, Luke’s Lobster is celebrating its 10th birthday with special versions by local chefs of its Maine lobster roll in the cities where it is located. José Andrés will devise the roll at the Georgetown spot, which opened in 2012 at 1211 Potomac St. NW. The company was founded by Luke Holden, a Georgetown University business school alumnus. His family owns a lobster- processing company in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Holden opened his first spot in Greenwich Village in 2009.
GEORGETOWN FALL MARKET
On Friday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 5, more than 20 Wisconsin Avenue boutiques, cafés, salons and galleries between O Street and Reservoir Road will celebrate the season with special promotions, live music and fall treats from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Fall Market will feature sidewalk displays as well as in-store offerings. Attendees can enter a social media contest for the chance to win one of several themed prizes, including three bottles of wine from Bacchus Wine Cellar, dessert for 12 from Pâtisserie Poupon, a handcrafted fall table centerpiece from TD Bank, a bread board from Moss & Co. and a Daylesford linen tea towel from Pillar & Post. For contest details, follow @officialgeorgetowndc and @georgetownmainst on Instagram with #georgetownfallmarket. For a list of participating merchants and promotions, visit georgetowndc.com/fallmarket.
