Business Ins & Outs: Billy Hicks, Rails, Ice Cream Jubilee, Booeymonger
By • February 5, 2024 0 2037
In: Rails, Clothing from L.A.
Another retailer of West Coast apparel for women and men has set up shop in Georgetown at 3239 M St. NW.
“Founded in 2008 by Los Angeles native, Jeff Abrams, Rails has grown from a small label — started with just a single hat — into a full collection of women’s and men’s apparel,” the company writes. “Sold at top international retailers and worn by a loyal following of celebrities and tastemakers, the brand has come to define a new classic heritage and relaxed sensibility. Rails, which started with a $5,000 investment, is now sold in 30 countries by more than 1,000 retailers, including its own flagship stores in New York, San Francisco, Newport Beach, Paris, London and Amsterdam.”
In: Ice Cream Jubilee Scoops Next Month
Ice Cream Jubilee plans to open on 3333 M Street (in the old Sweetgreen location) in early March — offering “ultra premium ice cream, vegan sorbets and vegan soft serve.”
Founded in 2014, Ice Cream Jubilee “specializes in handcrafted, creative ice cream flavors that delight and inspire,” we’re told. “Ice Cream Jubilee has won best ice cream in D.C. for nine years running and is constantly churning out new innovative seasonal flavors. Our ice cream is made at a dairy farm with milk from grass fed cows and no extra preservatives. We hope you taste the clean, delicious flavor in every bite.”
Its two other shops are in the Yards DC and Ballston.
Coming: Molteni&C
Molteni&C, a luxury furniture and kitchen group, has signed a five-year lease for a 7,149-square-foot showroom at 3306 M Street with EastBanc. It will join other top-drawer design companies like B&B Italia, Bo Concept and Waterworks — all part of the design district of Cady’s Alley on the west side of Georgetown.
Coming: Billy Hicks, ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ Vibe?
Brat Pack nostalgia is real. A new restaurant is being planned at the corner of M and Potomac Streets. The space, part of the Eton Court complex, has been empty for years and formerly housed Capitol Prague Restaurant and, before that, Morso Restaurant. Billy Hicks restaurant at 3277 M St. NW looks for a summer debut.
Some made recall the 1985 Georgetown-centric film, “St. Elmo’s Fire,” and the character Billy Hicks, played by Rob Lowe.
The licensee for Billy Hicks has applied for a new license under the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Act — and has proposed the following plans and schedules.
“New Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant with an indoor seating capacity of 75, Summer Garden with 12 seats, Total Occupancy Load of 99, and a Sidewalk Café with 12 seats. The Licensee is also requesting the Alcohol Carry-Out and Delivery Endorsement, Holiday Extension of Hours Endorsement, and Entertainment Endorsement for inside of the premises. Licensee is requesting Sports Wagering with 1 kiosk and a Streatery with a seating capacity of 25.
“HOURS OF OPERATION FOR INSIDE OF THE PREMISES, SIDEWALK CAFÉ, SUMMER GARDEN, AND STREATERY
Sunday 9am –10pm, Monday through Thursday 7am – 12am, Friday 7am – 1am, Saturday 9am – 1am
“HOURS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALES, SERVICE AND CONSUMPTION FOR INSIDE OF THE PREMISES, SIDEWALK CAFÉ, SUMMER GARDEN, AND STREATERY
Sunday 9 am – 10 pm, Monday through Thursday 10 am – 12 am, Friday 10 am – 1 am, Saturday 9 am – 1 am
“HOURS OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT INSIDE OF THE PREMISES
Sunday 10 am – 10 pm, Monday through Thursday 10 am – 12 am, Friday and Saturday 10 am – 1 am.”
Out …Wait … No: Booeymonger Reopens Uptown
Despite the loss of the original Booeymonger in Georgetown after 50 years, the dream and sandwiches live on up in Friendship Heights at 5252 Wisconsin Ave. NW, across from where Mazza Gallerie once stood.
“Chathura Karunapala, the new co-owner of the counter-service spot, said he had originally planned on opening a different eatery at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Jenifer Street, where Booeymonger had been a neighborhood fixture since 1976,” reported Washingtonian, which continued its delectable scoop about the Jan. 17 resurrection with the following.
“But when we did the renovation, most of the customers, most of the community, they requested Booeymonger,” Karunapala said.
Karunapala was formerly general manager at Booeymonger’s Ballston location; his partner, Ajith Pushpakumara, was general manager at the Bethesda Booeymonger.
When Karunapala began hearing pleas from decades-long customers, he and Pushpakumara went to the store’s outgoing owner, Rummana Choudhury, and got the go-ahead to re-open it.
Ron Vogel, one of the restaurant’s original co-owners and a partner in the business since 1973, was helping Karunapala and Pushpakumara as they were remodeling the property for a potential new restaurant. He was stunned by how many people came knocking at the door to ask when Booeymonger would be back.
“It was really heartwarming to see how Booeymonger stuck in their minds as a pleasant place to come to,” Vogel told Washingtonian. “They’ll keep the tradition going for sure.”
