Business Ins & Outs: May 4
• May 4, 2016

Rosewood Takes Over Capella

It’s official: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been appointed by CTF Georgetown Hotel LLC, new owners of Capella Washington, D.C., to take over the management of the hotel, which opened in 2013 on 31st Street NW, next to the C&O Canal.

“Effective April 21,” according to Rosewood, “the hotel, formerly owned by Castleton Hotel Partners I, LLC, has been renamed and is now known as Rosewood Washington, D.C. Rosewood and Capella Hotels are working closely together to ensure a smooth transition for guests, associates and partners.”

New to town is the Rosewood’s managing director, Pascal Forotti.

Meanwhile, Castleton Hotel Partners I, LLC, also announced the $65-million sale of the 49-room Capella, an office building transformed into a hotel by Castleton. The Capella quickly garnered high praise from travel experts.

“Rosewood Washington, D.C., is an exciting addition to Rosewood’s collection of properties and strengthens our presence in North America,” said Sonia Cheng, chief executive officer of Rosewood Hotel Group. “The hotel draws on the capital’s rich culture and history to express Rosewood’s trademark philosophy of ‘A Sense of Place’ in innovative and memorable ways.”

In: Men’s Clothier Ledbury Opens

With two showrooms in the company’s hometown of Richmond, Virginia, the men’s clothing store Ledbury opened a third showroom on April 30 in Georgetown, at 3319 A Cady’s Alley NW. With the philosophy, “A few well-made items are better than many that are not,” cofounders Paul Trible and Paul Watson began with shirts, eventually expanding to a full line of menswear.

In: Cuyana Pops Up on Wisconsin Avenue

Cuyana, a chic San Francisco fashion brand, will temporarily occupy the storefront at 1249 Wisconsin Ave. NW, formerly an Ugg Australia location. Cuyana’s mantra, “Fewer, better,” captures the company’s minimalist philosophy (Cuyana means love in Quechua).

Shoppers who select “lean shipping” when checking out on their online retail site will be sent a reusable bag, to be filled with unwanted used clothes. These are then donated to women in need of a fresh start. A $10 store credit is provided for every donation.

The pop-up shop runs through May 22. The brand’s only other locations are on the West Coast, one in San Francisco and one in Los Angeles.

In: Resource Furniture

Offering a “unique, curated collection of high-end furniture designed to transform any space with both beauty and functionality,” Resource Furniture will open a showroom on May 12 at 3340 Cady’s Alley NW, with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres served from 6 to 8 p.m.

Out: Tenleytown Safeway Fades Away

At 4203 Davenport St. NW since 1981, Safeway decided to close the place “on or around April 30,” according to the grocery store company, which added that the store, locally nicknamed the “secret” Safeway, “was simply underperforming.” Its landlord is Georgetown Day School.

H&M’s COS, & Other Stories Coming in Fall

M Street is to receive yet another clothing outlet: & Other Stories, a slightly more upmarket offshoot of H&M. Founded in 2013, & Other Stories aims to help women create “their personal style or story.” While the store aims to appear less “fast-fashion” than H&M, it is positioning itself as more affordable than COS (Collection of Style), another member of the family, which may also be coming to Georgetown (COS has applied for signage approval for the former Benetton space at Wisconsin and M).

Currently, & Other Stories only two non-European locations are both in New York City (Fifth Avenue and SoHo).

With a planned opening this fall, the Georgetown location of & Other Stories will be at 3245 M St. NW, the former home of Mexican restaurant Bandolero and seafood restaurant Tackle Box.