Business Ins & Outs: ICYMI Update
By • August 13, 2020 0 2004
Though the pandemic shutdown has accelerated the departure of some already struggling businesses, all is not gloom and doom for Georgetown’s commercial corridors. There is good business news afoot in Washington’s oldest neighborhood. Still, expect a changed retail and restaurant environment — even when the pandemic fades and an effective vaccine is available. There will be a new normal. In case you missed it, the following is a select rundown of business openings and closings since February. For the Ins, the amount is approximately 23 (11 soon to open); for the Outs, about 20.
IN: CALL YOUR MOTHER
Call Your Mother, D.C.’s locally grown “Jew-ish” deli, from co-owners and married couple Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira, opened on July 29 at 35th and O Streets NW. A neighborhood Instagram magnet, the colorful shop boasts 1,100 square feet dressed in the original pink.
IN: L.A. BURDICK
L.A. Burdick, a chocolate candy shop founded in New York, has opened at 1319 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The shop offers high-end chocolates as well as pastries and drinking chocolate. This is the company’s sixth location.
IN: GEORGETOWN SOCIAL
Last month, an eatery opened at 2920 M St. NW in the short-lived site of chocolatier Harper Macaw. Georgetown Social offers Turkish flatbread (pide) and Lebanese rolled thin bread (saj bread), along with drinks and hookahs.
IN: ALLBIRDS ON M
In February, San Francisco-based Allbirds opened its first D.C. store at 3135 M St. NW, site of the shuttered Ben & Jerry’s. The new store says it is “known for its super comfortable, unisex shoes (and now socks!) made from sustainable materials.”
IN: GEORGETOWN BUTCHER ON GRACE
Taking Neopol Savory Smokery’s spot, Georgetown Butcher is bringing “humanely raised meats” to the Grace Street Collective at 3210 Grace St. NW, where the cool eateries are. The new business owner, Wendell Allsbrook, arrives from the Organic Butcher of McLean.
IN: PADDYWAX CANDLE BAR
Paddywax Candle Bar, an experiential retailer where customers learn to make candles, opened at 1065 Wisconsin Ave. NW, above South Moon Under. The store serves beer and wine as amateur chandlers mix the scented wax to make their own products.IN: GEORGETOWN CARPET Georgetown Carpet has opened at 1815 Wisconsin Ave. NW, near Safeway. It had been in Glover Park since 1981.
IN: ORANGETHEORY FITNESS
Orangetheory Fitness opened next to Georgetown Carpet in the former space of men’s clothier Jos. A. Bank at 1815 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
IN: BAR BOTECO
A pop-up opened in July in the Sandbox eatery behind Cafe Milano, on the ground level of Georgetown Court at 3251 Prospect St. NW. Bar Boteco offers Brazilian-style grilled meats in partnership with Claudete Seban of MK Catering.
IN: CAFE AMA
Angelique Sina opened Cafe Ama at 1101 30th St. NW, selling coffee from Puerto Rico. President of Friends of Puerto Rico, Sina is keen to get the word out about the SEEDS entrepreneurship program for women and children in Puerto Rico.
COMING: BLU DOT, BOZZELLI’S, DONAHUE, FOXTROT MARKET, LE LABO, LEVAIN BAKERY, UBREAKIFIX, VERONICA BEARD, SARAH FLINT
The following stores have plans to open, according to the Georgetown Business Improvement District: 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 fragrances at 3005 M St. NW (the former Hu’s Shoes); Levain Bakery at 3131 M St. NW (cookies at the former Johnny Rockets); UBreakIFix at 1519 Wisconsin Ave. NW; Veronica Beard women’s clothing at 1254 Wisconsin Ave. NW (the former Streets of Georgetown clothier); and Sarah Flint shoes at 1259 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
SOON: TACQUERIA IN DEAN & DELUCA SPACE
District Bodega, a tacqueria serving fresh Mexican cuisine, is planning to move into the former D.C. home of Dean & DeLuca at 3276 M St. NW, with seating on part of the ground floor, on the mezzanine level and outdoors. The Artists & Fleas multiple-vendor market, announced previously, will occupy the rest of the space.
OUT? BLUES ALLEY’S FUTURE UNCERTAIN
Sad news from Blues Alley management: “After 55 years in business we find ourselves in a situation completely out of our control. Until further notice, Blues Alley will remain open in the virtual realm only with our streaming series, Speakeasy, on Wednesdays and Thursdays. With no definitive process established nor the ability to forecast a plan to reopen, we will cease all other sales. We are keeping place holders with the artists on their dates in hopes of a triumphant return. All pending purchases will be addressed but we ask for your patience while we reconcile what we are able to fulfill and what must be refunded.”
OUT: BOGART SALON AFTER 45 YEARS
“After more than 45 years in Georgetown, Bogart hair salon will close for good on Aug. 1,” the business told The Georgetowner. Lee Walters, owner of the salon at 1063 Wisconsin Avenue NW, cited rising rent and the pandemic.
OUT: HIGH STREET CAFÉ
High Street Café, the Latin-themed brasserie that opened in November of 2018 in the former Paolo’s at 1303 Wisconsin Ave. NW, has closed. Restaurateur Manuel Iguina says he will open a new place, Casa Piko, at a new address: “Same vibe. Same love. Just a different package and a whole lot more color.”
OUT: KATE SPADE
At 3034 M St. NW, the plywood has been up since June and the Kate Spade New York logo is gone. Founded in 1993 by Kate and Andy Spade, the business expanded past handbags into clothing and other accessories. It is now owned by Tapestry, Inc., formerly known as Coach.
OUT: CHERUB ANTIQUES
Bruce Marine, owner of Cherub Antiques Gallery at 2918 M St. NW, closed his shop on Aug. 1. He told The Georgetowner: “After great reflection 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.”
OUT: MASSIMO DUTTI
Massimo Dutti, the luxury men’s and women’s clothing brand located at 1220 Wisconsin Ave. NW, has left town.
OUT: ECCO
Ecco, the shoe retailer at 1227 Wisconsin Ave. NW, between the Apple store and Vineyard Vines, closed up shop.
OUT: HSBC
The bank at Wisconsin Avenue and R Street NW — HSBC (The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) — has departed Georgetown, leaving D.C. with one branch. The property at 1715 Wisconsin Ave. NW previously housed Japan Inn Restaurant.
OUT: LOCAL MEDITATIONS
CBD shop Local Meditations, co-founded by Tanya Duckett and Shara Gibson, has left its Georgetown location at 1631 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Their business remains online.
OUT: CAFE ROMEO’S
Cafe Romeo’s, the pizza parlor and hookah lounge at 2132 Wisconsin Ave. NW, has closed.
OUT ON M: AMERICA EATS, BAKER FURNITURE, BROOKS BROTHERS, JOHNNY ROCKETS, LPQ, LUCKY BRAND, PEET’S, ROOTS, STARBUCKS, WSC
Chef José Andrés and his ThinkFoodGroup closed the America Eats Tavern at 3139 M St. NW after opening two summers ago. While other eateries closed 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.
The following M Street stores have also closed: Baker Furniture, Brooks Brothers, Johnny Rockets, Le Pain Quotidien, Lucky Brand, Peet’s Coffee, Roots, Starbucks (at 3122) and Washington Sports Club.
