Business Ins & Outs: Cherub Antiques Gallery, ThinkFoodGroup, Blu Dot furnishings & more
By • July 15, 2020 0 1081
OUT: CHERUB ANTIQUES GALLERY’S LAST DAY IS AUG. 1
Bruce Marine, owner of Cherub Antiques Gallery at 2918 M St. NW, has decided to close up shop. He told The Georgetowner: “After great ref lection upon my shop’s amazing history in Georgetown, up to present-day challenges, I have decided to close my M Street gallery storefront after almost 37 years.” The gallery will be open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Aug. 1, with the entire collection offered at 20-to-50-percent off. Marine is also available for private viewing appointments.
Cherub’s collection includes sculpture, candelabra, art glass and artwork in the Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Arts & Crafts and Vienna Secession styles — with an emphasis on German, French and British examples — as well as an extensive collection of period cocktail shakers, bar accessories and wine accoutrements. To view most of the collection, visit cherubantiquesgallery.com
OUT: AMERICA EATS, LPQ, PEETS, WSC, LUCKY
Georgetown’s business community, like many across the nation, is taking a hit during the pandemic — on top of the ongoing retail decline.
High-profile chef José Andrés and his ThinkFoodGroup have closed the America Eats Tavern at 3139 M St. NW after opening to much acclaim two summers ago. The news got picked up as an indicator of COVID-19’s lasting impact on the local economy. While eateries shut down in the first month of the pandemic, America Eats Tavern remained in operation to provide meals for the needy from its front door. Andrés continues his work at his nonprofit World Central Kitchen. As for the America Eats menu theme, the restaurant group says it is open to “revisiting this concept in the future.”
In the bankruptcy circle or downsizing are the following closed or soon-to-close stores, all on M Street: Le Pain Quotidien, Peet’s Coffee, Washington Sports Club, Lucky Brand, Brooks Brothers, Johnny Rockets, Starbucks and Roots.
COMING: BLU DOT, BOZZELLI’S, DONAHUE, FOXTROT, LE LABO, LEVAIN, UBREAKIFIX, VERONICA BEARD, CALL YOUR MOTHER
All is not gloom and doom for Georgetown’s commercial corridors. There is some good business news afoot in Washington’s oldest neighborhood.
Set to open soon, according to the BUSINESSGeorgetown Business Improvement District, are: Blu Dot furnishings, 3333 M St. NW (the former North Face store); Bozzelli’s pizza and subs at Washington Harbour; Donahue restaurant at 1338 Wisconsin Ave. NW (the former Smith Point); Foxtrot Market at 1267 Wisconsin Ave. NW (the former Jonathan Adler); Le Labo perfume shop at 3005 M St. NW (the former Hu’s Shoes); Levain Bakery at 3131 M St. NW (the former Johnny Rockets); UBreakIFix at 1519 Wisconsin Ave. NW; and Veronica Beard women’s clothing at 1254 Wisconsin Ave. NW (the former Streets of Georgetown clothier).
Also opening soon, with all its applications approved, is the Call Your Mother deli and bagel joint at the corner of 35th and O Streets NW, two blocks from the gates of Georgetown University.
New stores that made their debut a few months ago include Allbirds and Rothy’s, both shoe stores on M Street, Georgetown Butcher on Grace Street, and — both on Wisconsin Avenue — L.A. Burdick chocolatier and Paddywax Candle Bar.
More good news: a pop-up opened on July 2 on the ground level of Georgetown Court at 3251 Prospect St. NW, in the SandboX eatery behind Cafe Milano. Bar Boteco offers Brazilian-style grilled meats in partnership with Claudete Sebben of MK Catering.
COMING IN GLOVER PARK: LITTLE BEAST BAZAAR
Set to open early next year, Little Beast Bazaar, a food-hall creation of restaurateur Aaron Gordon, will replace the former Town Hall bar and restaurant at 2340 Wisconsin Ave. NW. It will include “multiple offerings found in the Gordon Food Group portfolio, as well as a new spot from pastry chef Naomi Gallego, formerly of Le Diplomat, Blue Duck Tavern and Neighborhood Restaurant Group,” according to the Washington Business Journal.
ANGELA FRANCO NAMED DC CHAMBER CEO
The DC Chamber of Commerce announced on July 1 that Angela Franco will join the organization as interim president and CEO. In her new role, Franco will lead the largest and oldest Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. She succeeds Vincent Orange, who is running for an at-large seat on the District Council.
Most recently, Franco served as senior advisor at the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, where she supported the organization’s business development efforts and was primarily responsible for growing and strengthening relationships with the small business community. As a member of the senior team at DCHBX, she also worked with the federal and local governments.
DC Chamber of Commerce Chair Ajay Madan commented: “This is the perfect time for Angela to lead the Chamber. She is an executive that understands the region from different dimensions — the private, public and Chamber sectors.” He added: “She will enable the Chamber’s board of directors to implement the ‘Chamber of the Future,’ an initiative that began in 2019, and is more necessary to our client members today. Capitalizing on the Chamber’s growth over the past few years, the Chamber is focused on providing more value to our members, ongoing advocacy on their behalf, working together to provide support, education, relevant programs and opportunities to expand their businesses in social-distanced and virtual environments and partnering with all groups and the citizens of D.C. to come back from COVID-19.”
