Latest News

Chuck Baldwin • August 29, 2016

Georgetown University students are returning. If you lived on the west side of town, you’d know this already. Among the new additions to the campus this fall: a Hindu chaplain.

Robert Devaney • August 27, 2016

The trophy retail space at Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, which once housed Nathans Restaurant, was purchased, according to the Washington Business Journal, by “War Horse LLC, a real estate development firm started by Scott Plank, a former Under Armour executive and brother of founder Kevin Plank.”

The purchase of the property was first reported by the Georgetowner last week: “One of the most recognized properties at Georgetown’s most famous intersection was sold Feb. 21 for $12.25 million by the Heon family to 3150 M Street, LLC.”

Curiously, the Heon and Plank families know each other — the ones who live in Kensington, Md. (Kevin Plank’s mother Jayne was the mayor there.) While each family has a Georgetown connection, the Heons in Maryland were the ones contacted by the Planks and helped set up the deal, according to one Heon family member.

The identity of the new owner was learned this week. “Scott Plank’s firm plans to lease the building to the Baltimore-based performance athletic clothing company to open a signature Under Armour Brand House retail shop,” the Business Journal reported. “Under Armour spokeswoman Diane Pelkey said the company has not signed a lease at the Georgetown location.”

The future of Serendipity 3 restaurant, which occupies the 6,662-square-foot building at 3150 M St., NW, is unclear. The Washington location of the famed New York-based ice cream and hamburger joint has one year left on its lease.

The Heon family — which sold the former Georgetown Theater property to Georgetown architect Robert Bell for redevelopment in October 2013 — had owned the corner property for 100 years. During the middle of the 20th century, some family members lived in the upper floors of 3150 M St., NW. For the present generation, this was where parents and grandparents lived.

For the Planks, a home on 35th Street near O Street is often cited. It was where Kevin Plank started Under Armour in his grandmother’s basement. It is even mentioned in a TV commercial for a computer company. Also, it was Kevin Plank, who purchased the Ambassador Bruce House at 34th and O Streets from Deborah Winsor, widow of Curtin Winsor, co-founder of the Bank of Georgetown, in July 2013 for $7.85 million.

Gary Tischler • August 25, 2016

Peter Newsham, a 27-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department, will take over temporarily, when Police Chief Cathy Lanier departs in mid-September.

Georgetowner • August 24, 2016

The Georgetown-Burleith ANC will meet Monday, Aug. 29, to discuss Georgetown University Hospital site work, Key Bridge rehab and impact of any new boathouses on the Potomac.

Georgetowner • August 23, 2016

Friday is the Goethe-Institut’s Sommerfest, Saturday is the America’s Front Yard Family Festival and Sunday is Jewish Community Day at Nationals Park. And if you want to see “The Lonesome West” at the Keegan, Saturday is your last chance…

Robert Devaney • August 22, 2016

It sounds likes an Olympic swimming team joke, but the victim told U.S. Park Police he was told at gunpoint to jump into the Potomac and swim.

Gary Tischler • August 18, 2016

The rise of Cathy Lanier, popular with all but the union, was a Great American Dream story.

Georgetowner •

Choose from UB40 and the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra on Friday, Chuck Brown and Ira Glass on Saturday and the Suicide Squad and the Pirates of Penzance on Sunday…