Ins & Outs: Green Almond Pantry, The Lantern, Sandlot, Budd & Co., L. Priori
By • May 12, 2021 0 1012
Reopening: The Lantern Book Shop on P St.
The Lantern — the used and rare book store at 3241 P St. NW run by volunteers, most of whom are local Bryn Mawr College alumnae — will reopen on May 13 after being closed for more than a year. Its days of operation are Thursday through Sunday. There may be a limit on the number of shoppers at any one time, so call ahead to 202-333-3222 or email lantern@hers.com. All of the Lantern’s profits go to the college to support students’ summer internships.
In: Green Almond Pantry Relocates to Grace St.
The Mediterranean cafe counter and market from chef-owner Cagla Onal reopened in Georgetown on May 13. Located within the Grace Street Collective at 3210 Grace Street NW, the new location offers nearly double the seating that was available in its Shaw spot and takes advantage of an open kitchen concept to bring forward Onal’s love for simply prepared, high-quality ingredients. She is a James Beard nominee, and the cafe was named by Esquire as one of the 22 Best New Restaurants in America two years ago.
“In a way, Georgetown’s Rose Park farmers market is where it all started, so it’s like we’ve come full circle,” says Onal, whose first name roughly translates to “green almond” in her native Turkey. “And with spring here and all the beautiful ingredients that come with the season, this just feels right. We’re really excited to be back and to be cooking again.”
The rotating menu will feature a mix of Green Almond Pantry classics, including freshly made focaccia, salads and dips, sandwiches, braised lamb and roasted fish, and an array of cakes. Additionally, the market selections reflect some of Onal’s personal pantry must-haves: tinned fish, imported grains, olive oil and vinegars, specialty herbs and more, the business tell us, All other items are intended to be enjoyed in the first-come, first-serve indoor/outdoor seating throughout the Grace Street Collective or for takeaway.
For now, hours will span Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In: Sandlot Georgetown at 28th & Penn
Ian Callender opened his second Sandlot venture on May 6 at 2715 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Callender’s business model includes outdoor shipping container bars, food trucks and opportunities to highlight Black-owned food businesses. His first is Sandlot Southeast at 71 Potomac Ave. SE, south of Nationals Park. Callender also owns event design firm Suite Nation.
Sandlot Georgetown sits on property bordered by Rock Creek Park, M Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, across from the Four Seasons Hotel. Fronting on land belonging to the National Park Service, it was the site of a gas station for decades. EastBanc owns the lot, which will someday be the site of luxury condominiums.
Set to continue through the end of 2021, the outdoor fun starts at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and at noon on Saturdays and Sundays. As DJ-selected music plays, patrons can sit at chairs and picnic tables while sipping juice cocktails and ordering from a different eatery each week.
In: First U.S. Location for U.K.’s Budd & Co.
Budd & Co., a new concept house of British brands, bespoke suiting and fine leather accessories, opened on May 6 at 2824 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, near the Four Seasons Hotel. Budd & Co. Washington, the brand’s first foray into the U.S. market, is an extension of Budd Shirtmakers in London’s Piccadilly Arcade. It replaces Sterling & Burke, a luxe British clothing and gift store that was at the address for eight years.
In addition to the full range of shirting, nightwear and accessories from Budd Shirtmakers, the store offers leather goods from Tusting, fine luggage from Globe-Trotter, timepieces from award-winning British watchmakers Bremont and products from the ultra-exclusive Florentine apothecary Santa Maria Novella. An in-house men’s tailoring service is also available.
The company writes that “it will also operate as a community space by opening up their second-floor lounge for public and private events tailored to the Budd & Co. customer, Georgetown and the Washington area as a whole. Independently from the store, the upstairs lounge is Budd & Co.’s opportunity to engage the local community through a series of social events — more info to come in the coming weeks.”
In: L. Priori Jewelry at Wisconsin & K
L. Priori Jewelry opened at end of April at 1002 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Located at the Waterfront Center, the Georgetown store will be L. Priori’s second venture outside Philadelphia (it also operates a store in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania).
“I’ve looked for communities that remind me of the city where it all started, Philadelphia,” said Lauren Priori, owner and founder of L. Priori Jewelry. “In that sense, I wanted somewhere rich in history and with a similar, but unique, consumer market.”
L. Priori tells us that “it specializes in crafted, curated and customized jewelry as unique as the beholder to help commemorate all of life’s most important moments, and make them indelible. The team at L. Priori are experts at creating one-of-a-kind experiences and products, responsibly sourcing only the highest quality materials and developing 3-D engineered wax renderings to ensure a timeless piece is created for the customer.”
