Business Ins & Outs
• June 18, 2015

Circulator Bus Now Runs Through National Mall

Navigating the National Mall is now made easier with a new Circulator bus route catering to the area, which launched June 14. The tourist-friendly route, which begins at Union Station, has 15 stops near main attractions, including the U.S. Capitol, National Gallery of Art, Lincoln Memorial and Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

“The DC Circulator’s expansion is a win for the District, its residents and visitors. This route will provide people with greater access to the nation’s most iconic monuments, memorials and museums while boosting economic activity in the District,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser upon announcement of the route.

The latest Circulator route marks the city’s sixth overall, featuring buses running every 10 minutes for a $1 fare. Weekday service runs from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. while weekend hours of service are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In: Hop, Cask & Barrel on Wisconsin Avenue

There’s new wine in an old bottle. Hops, Cask & Barrel has opened 1717 Wisconsin Ave. NW, occupying the former space of Wagner’s Liquors. The business is associated with Sherry’s Liquor of Woodley Park on Connecticut Avenue. Ryan Wegman, director of wine and outreach for the store, sent the Georgetowner an introduction: “HCB serves the liquid geek — a craft beer selection beyond predictable names (Deschutes and multiple growler taps), to wines outside the large labels already available (and classified growths for the connoisseur), and eclectic spirits no one carries, but we’ve imported directly (Brennivin!) or negotiated an allocation above everyone else’s (Pappy!) — hopcaskandbarrel. com.”

Out: Washington Post Shuts Down Gazette Newspapers

“The Gazette newspapers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties will print their final editions June 17 and 18 after more than 55 years of publishing,” reports the Washington Post. The Gazette, which began publishing in 1959, had a weekly circulation of half a million five years ago. According to Post Community Media, part of the Washington Post Company, the closing eliminates 69 jobs, including those of 12 reporters and two photographers by Aug. 11, with the required 60day notice given to employees.

Davis Kennedy, publisher of D.C.’s Current community newspapers, bought the Gaithersburg
Gazette in 1979 and built a group of Montgomery County papers under the Gazette banner that he sold to the Washington Post Company in 1993. The Prince Georges edition began in 1997. According to Post blogger Eric Wemple, Kennedy said he made an offer for the Gazette papers through a broker but was rejected; however, a Post spokesperson told Wemple they had no record of the offer.

Cats Roam at Crumbs & Whiskers

“U Got to Be Kitten Me.” (Yeah, we just wrote that quotation down, too.) The preview parties have already begun for Crumbs & Whiskers, Georgetown’s cat cafe at 3211 O St. NW, which officially opens June 20. Owner Kanchan Singh, and her friends and family, have fixed up the place with advisories on the wall, such as “Be gentle with cats” and “No flash photography.” Partnering with the cafe, the Washington Humane Society will provide vaccinated and vetted cats to Crumbs & Whiskers, which will act as a foster home for the cats until they are adopted. Crumbs & Whiskers is the city’s first cat café.

Man & Woman of the Year

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hit a record-breaking $1,810,930 at its annual Man and Woman of the Year gala, held June 13 at the J.W. Marriott. Man and Woman of the Year honors went to Kevin Rohalmin and Katie Simmons Hickey.