Business

Georgetowner • November 20, 2013

Sandro, a Paris-based fashion label that sells
women’s and men’s clothing, will open its first
D.C. store next year in Georgetown, reported the
Washington Business Journal last week. It will
fill the former space of Red Fire Grill Kabob,
which closed about six months ago.

In 1984, Sandro was created by Evelyne and
Didier Chetrite. Later, their son Ilan joined the
company, designing a men’s line of clothing.

Georgetowner •

There is one tavern liquor license now available
in Georgetown, which remains under a
neighborhood liquor license moratorium.
Because the defunct Saloun, formerly at 3239
M Street, did not renew its tavern license, the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board cancelled its
license Oct. 30.

So, who has applied for this one-of-a-kind,
tavern-nightclub license?

The Alcoholic Beverage Regulation
Administration told the Georgetowner Nov. 18
that it “has received two applications for the
tavern license in Georgetown. Gypsy Sally’s
Acoustic Tavern LLC, trading as Gypsy Sally’s
at 3401 Water St., NW, applied to transfer
its restaurant license to become a tavern in
Georgetown. The second is from Restaurant
Enterprises, Inc., trading as Smith Point at 1338
Wisconsin Avenue, NW. They also submitted an
application to transfer their alcoholic beverage
license from a restaurant to a tavern in the area.
Applications are being reviewed on a first-come,
first-serve basis and are subject to the approval of
the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.”
Last week, ABRA announced: “ …

Restrictions have temporarily been lifted on
alcoholic beverage licenses for taverns in the
Georgetown Historic District. The change
occurred after the number of licensed taverns
within the historic area fell below a legislative
cap of six. … Taverns located in the
Georgetown Historic District are permitted to
transfer alcoholic beverage licenses to new
owners and new locations within the area. An
existing restaurant in the historic district will
also be able to apply to become a tavern or
nightclub in the neighborhood. Applications
to make any of the changes would need
to be filed with the Alcoholic Beverage
Regulation Administration for consideration by
the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.”
“The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act
and Rules Reform Amendment Act of 1994
freezes the transfer or sale of tavern and
nightclub licenses in the Georgetown Historic
District when there are six or more taverns
and/or nightclubs licensed in the area,”
according to ABRA.

There are no nightclubs licensed in
Georgetown — once a sixth tavern license is
issued, ABRA noted, “the ability to transfertavern
licenses will end once the legislative cap
of six taverns and/or nightclubs is reached in
the Georgetown Historic District.”

Georgetowner •

The Latham Hotel was bought by SB-Urban
last week for $45.4M, according to DC records.
As reported, the new owners, Frank Saul and
Mike Balaban, are looking to convert the former
hotel — 3000 M St., NW — into small condos. The
Latham Hotel, along with restaurants Citronelle
and la Madeleine, was closed in June 2012.

Georgetowner •

Closed since August, Cannon’s Fish Market
on 31st Street made the suspected official: it will
shut down permanently.

Cannon’s owner Bobby Moore contacted
Carol Joynt of Washingtonian Magazine “to
announce he’s decided to close the business for
good and lease the space to his 31st Street nextdoor
neighbor, Il Canale Italian restaurant,” Joynt
reported last week.

According to Washingtonian, “Moore, 47,
says the ‘medical reasons’ are simple wear and
tear on his body. ‘I’ve been working there since
I was 12, working on concrete, wet floors, lifting
fish every day of my life …’ he says. ‘My back
is killing me. I had surgery a few years ago for
herniated disks, two knee surgeries, [and] I had
my right hip replaced seven years ago. It’s been
giving me problems again, and my other hip is
shot.’ He says he sat down to discuss it with his
family recently, and they decided to ‘close [the
shop] altogether.’ “

Georgetowner •

Einstein Brothers Bagels opened at 2233 Wisconsin Ave., NW, in the former ground-floor space of stores, Fan Fair and Vespa. The spot was vacant almost five years.

Georgetowner •

Children’s clothing store, Egg — specializing in organic fabric and with the slogan, “Nuture your baby in style” — has replaced Magic Wardrobe at 1661 Wisconsin Ave., NW.

Georgetowner •

Goorin Brothers, the classic and “original bold hatmakers” from San Francisco, will set up shop in November. 1214 Wisconsin Ave., NW

Georgetowner •

Pandora — with jewelry stores in Tysons Corner, Montgomery and Fair Oaks Mall and many more — will open at 3213 M St., NW, formerly the home of men’s clothing shop Riccardi.

Georgetowner •

SweetFrog Yogurt, the pay-by-the-ounce, customized desserts shop at 1737 Wisconsin Ave., NW, at the corner of S Street opened Oct. 20. SweetFrog offers more than 20 froyo flavors and a considerable variety of topping selections.

“SweetFrog is frozen yogurt your way. You determine what goes in your cup, so every creation is perfect,” said James Denison, a company spokesperson. At sweetFrog, customers are invited to be creative, mix and match their favorite flavors and top them with what they want.

The yogurt chain has expanded to more than 300 stores in the U.S., England and the Caribbean since opening in Richmond in 2009.

Storeowners David and Elliot Staley are happy to bring the taste to town and say, “Our goal is for the store to serve as a fun and uplifting environment for the whole family to enjoy.”