Business

Robert Devaney •

Chef Fabio Trabocchi signed a 15-year lease last week with MRP Realty for a new restaurant in Georgetown, according to the real estate group, which owns Washington Harbour, the popular multi-use complex between K Street and the Potomac River. Trabocchi plans to open the 9,000-square-foot Fiola Mare by the end of 2013; he already operates Fiola in downtown D.C. To be located on the west side of Washington Harbour, the fish-happy eatery will have inside and outside dining along with a raw bar.

“Fiola Mare will be exceptional complement to the restaurant tenant mix we have at Washington Harbour,” said Bob Murphy, managing principal of MRP Realty. “Having recently completed a significant renovation project at Washington Harbour, Fiola Mare will add to the level of sophistication that we are bringing to our tenants, residents and the community.”

District board of directors vice president, John Asadoorian of Asadoorian Retail Solutions, represented MRP Realty during the transaction, according to MRP.

Robert Devaney • February 14, 2013

As DSW, a discount shoe store, prepares to moves into the former Georgetown Park Mall, a long-time tenant of the Shops at Georgetown Park is moving down the street a bit to the corner, once occupied by Intermix, alongside Dean & DeLuca. J. Crew plans to open in its new, larger space in April. Other new tenants coming to the shopping complex at 3222 M St., NW, include HomeGoods, T.J. Maxx and Pinstripes.

Robert Devaney •

Following a multi-million dollar makeover, the Hotel Monticello reopens its doors in early April as the Graham Georgetown. The 57-room hotel, owned by Mast Capital of Miami, at 1075 Thomas Jefferson St., NW, takes its inspiration from Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, who had a laboratory on Volta Place in Georgetown and who, according to the new hotel, “personified the intersection of modern ingenuity with historical significance – a fine-tuned blend of old and new that will define guests’ experience at the Graham Georgetown and distinguish it from the Hotel Monticello.” The hotel will have a rooftop bar, the Observatory, and a cocktail lounge, the Alex, as well as a fitness center.

On 31st Street at the C&O Canal, the Capella is also set to open in April. Its five-story building is the former Trial Lawyers Association headquarters. The 49-room Capella will boast a restaurant and bar overlooking the canal. The Grill Room seats 70 and will be headed by chef Jacob Esko, who hails from Sweden and arrives from Capella Singapore. It will also have a rooftop bar — along with a swimming pool.

Robert Devaney •

Georgetown architect Marilyn Stern, who has patents on such things as balancing place cards and a pleat-pin drapery system, has branched out to personalized prescriptions as party favors. The product developer’s new small business division is called Scrip Tease Rx, and each container can have a label made personally for each individual at an event.

At a birthday party last summer, the creative Stern first decided to give each party-goer an individualized prescription label that played on their personalities. She wanted to keep things light and casual and make parties funnier, she said.

Now, the humorous labels just keep coming and include “Boost-a-cillin,” improved outlook, “Multitask-eral,” help for multitasks, and “Sinbalta,” cure for bad behavior. What’s inside the small containers? Something better than hard drugs: simple M&Ms or other candies.

Stern finds her small business at a crossroads: how to grow it faster to meet demand? For increased funding, she has turned to Kickstarter. com, where she wrote: “We can help you and your friends with your issues and make all your events fun and memorable. So, we’re hoping that you help us with our one small issue. In order to produce the Scrip Tease Rx labels in an efficient and reasonable way, we are in need of a real pharmaceutical label printer.” Stern’s deadline for funding is Feb. 24. Check www. Kickstarter.com — “Funny, personalized, fake prescriptions for modern life” — and also visit Stern’s own site, www.Sternscape.com. [gallery ids="101162,141668" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

Beasley Real Estate founder Jim Bell celebrated the firm’s first anniversary with a gathering to benefit Georgetown Ministry Center at one of Beasley’s best listings: a first-floor residence at the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton on South Street. The $4.65-million property is at a top-drawer location near all of Georgetown’s action and overlooks the Potomac River, Whitehurst Freeway and Washington Harbour.

Georgetowner • January 30, 2013

**Billy Reid Clothing Store Coming to M Street**
Billy Reid, the men?s and women?s clothing store with Southern roots, will be taking over the empty space of Uno Pizzeria?s Chicago Grill at 3211 M St., NW. The store also sells antiques. Most stores are in Alabama and Texas. The D.C. Billy Reid will its second north of the Potomac River; it has a New York store. The large build- ing also comes with a liquor license, which may explain why Billy Reid chose the spot. ?There are also plans to have the retail space hold live performances and evening affairs, which is a signature in all of Reid?s establishments,? reported the Washington Post last year.

**Business Group Kicks Off 2013 at the George Town Club**
The Georgetown Business Association held its first board and committee meetings of 2013 Jan. 16 at the George Town Club on Wisconsin Avenue and then kicked back with an ?Inaugural Kick-Off Reception? at the Club Room, which filled with members, old and new, and with guests for a lively evening of camaraderie along with food and drink. In gearing up for this year?s business efforts, the association is calling for volunteers to help with various committee assignments: membership, events, marketing and communications, safety, economic devel- opment and small business, governance and legislative. To serve on any of these committees, contact the Georgetown Business Association, 3233 K St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 — 202-640-1279 or e-mail: info@gtownbusiness. com.

**Kavanagh?s Closing for Fancier Italian Eatery**
Here?s a news blast from neighborhood blog Popville: Another new restaurant is coming to Glover Park. Restauranteur Adam Hiltebeitel tells me that he is bringing Arcuri to 2400 Wisconsin Ave, NW. He says Arcuri will be ?an energetic restaurant serving American food inspired by Italian traditions? and should open in early 2013.

2400 Wisconsin Ave is home to a few res- taurant including Heritage India but Arcuri will be taking over the lower level, currently home to Kavanagh?s Pizza Pub.

**Third Edition Holds Its Last Parties**
The Third Edition has a few Thursday parties left to say goodbye. Whether it will be renamed El Centro, as its new partnership includes the Sandoval Group, remains unclear. ?It?s been a great run, and it has a great history,? owner Greg Talcott said of Third Edition. ?But it?s time to put a new face on it.?

**Take Unwanted Furs to Coats for Cubs**
Before you toss the fur that either you no longer want or is in bad shape, take it over to Buffalo Exchange to contribute to its Coats for Cubs drive.

The annual drive aims to collect furs and redistribute them to wildlife rehabilitation pro- grams across the country. Rehab centers use the donated furs as bedding for wild animals, such as raccoons, foxes or even cubs, that have been orphaned or injured. Your unwanted furs can make a natural bedding more suitable than blankets for wild animals.

Buffalo Exchange, the family-owned and -operated fashion resale retailer, took over the program from the Humane Society of the United States in 2006, when financial cuts forced it to discontinue the program. Since then, Buffalo Exchange and the Humane Society have col- lected more than 7,500 furs.

Donations of real fur coats, accessories, trims and shearlings can be dropped off at Buffalo Exchange?s Georgetown location at 3279 M St., NW, or at its 14th Street location. The drive runs through April 22, Earth Day.

Nico Dodd • December 14, 2012

Last Tuesday, Dec. 4, the Washington Business Hall of Fame honored its five 2012 Laureates at a dinner at the Washington Hilton Ballroom. The 25th annual event was co-presented by the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Junior Achievement and Washingtonian Magazine and chaired by Robert P. Pincus, vice chairman of EagleBank. Fox News’s Bret Baier emceed the event.

The event had a record attendance of approximately 1,400 people and raised more than $1.3 million for Junior Achievement of Greater Washington. Proceeds will go towards financial literacy programs for area youth. Junior Achievement serves 52,000 youths during the academic year through 525,000 hours academic programs.

The 2012 Laureates are Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr., chairman, Patton Boggs LLP; Giuseppe Cecchi, president, the IDI Group Companies; John R. Darvish, founder and president, Darcars; M. Charito Kruvant, president and CEO, Creative Associates International, Inc.; and Ronald D. Paul, chairman and CEO of EagleBank. The Washington Business Hall of Fame recognizes business leaders for their lifetime achievements through the private sector economy in Greater Washington. Laureates must demonstrate and had outstanding business accomplishments, visionary leadership, integrity and strong core values and passionate community engagement. Past laureates include Ted Leonsis, Ted Lerner and Katharine Graham.

Recently, 2012 laureate Ron Paul visited Junior Achievement’s Finance Park. “Walking off Finance Park gave me the hope that our children will have a better feel for the responsibilities they’ll have in volatile, difficult times.” Paul was pleased that the park teaches “real life experience, not theoretical.” [gallery ids="101103,138222,138216,138180,138211,138187,138207,138194,138201" nav="thumbs"]