Dog Tag Bakery Plans Early February ’14 Debut
• July 18, 2013

Dog Tag Bakery, a unique non-profit bakery that teams with and trains veterans, is slated to open at 3206 Grace St., NW, once the location of Grace and Bamboo restaurant. It also plans to have a small cafe on the rooftop.

“We hope to open early February 2014,” says Adam Mortillaro, director of development and fundraising for Dog Tag Bakery, which is headquartered at the Jesuits’ residence, Wolfington Hall, on Georgetown University’s main campus.

The non-profit was begun by Rev. Richard Curry, S.J., who also founded the National Theater Workshop for the Handicapped. Curry also heads up Georgetown’s Academy for Veterans, a program which assists veterans returning to civilian life that combines performing arts, spirituality, medical care and learning. Born with a disability himself, Curry states the mission of Dog Tag Bakery: “To create a bold, new model for transition assistance and job training for veterans (and their care givers) with a service-connected disability who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.”

Dog Tag Bakery says it will “feature an assortment of baked breads, from Father Curry’s book, ‘The Secret to Jesuit Bread Making,’ as well as specialty, seasonal and holiday items. The bakery will also offer light fare for breakfast and lunch and a full service coffee and beverage bar. … will also produce homemade dog biscuits for our canine customers. These delicious dog biscuits are made with all natural ingredients and will be baked on-site and sold both in-store and online.”

GNC Opens on Wisconsin Avenue
• July 17, 2013

GNC, the vitamin, supplements and sports nutrition store, has opened at 1336 Wisconsin Ave., NW. It replaces the clothing store Coogi.

Ezrailson’s Reddz Trading Opens on Wisconsin Ave.
• July 4, 2013

A little bit of now-gone hot Georgetown businesses, Commander Salamander and Up Against the Wall, are back on the street. Reddz Trading, a resale clothing shop, opened at 1413 Wisconsin Ave, NW, last week, in the old antique rug shop next to CVS. Also with a Bethesda store, the business is owned by Wendy “Red” Ezrailson, who with her husband and others ran those other trendy clothing days for several decades. “Reddz is a modern approach to recycled designer clothing and accessories,” the company promises. “Save money, make money or trade for something fresh. Upscale resale is like consignment, but Reddz pays cash for your clothes.”

Max’s Ice Cream to Stay Through Oct. 31
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Max’s Best Ice Cream gets to stay at 2416 Wisconsin Ave., NW, through Oct. 31, in a deal with the business owner Max Kehani and landlords Gail and Barbara Bassin. The popular shop in Glover Park for two decades had its lease extended past the June 30 deadline after the neighborhood protested the upcoming move. Lawyers for both parties stated: “Max’s Best Ice Cream will continue in business at 2416 Wisconsin Avenue through October 31, 2013. Max and Gail and Barbara Bassin, the owners of the property, have agreed that this represents a fair and reasonable outcome for all involved. It gives Max and the community the benefit of having Max’s Best Ice Cream in Glover Park for the entire 2013 summer and part of the fall. We are grateful to John Snedden and Rocklands Barbeque without whose active support this arrangement could not have been achieved.”
By Nov. 1, however, the business will have to move, and the space will be taken over by next-door Rocklands Barbecue.

Kintaro to Get Temporary Liquor License
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Kintaro, the Japanense restaurant that opened in May at 1039 33rd St., NW., in the former L. Chocolatier space, received approval during the July 1 advisory neighborhood commission meeting to request a “Stipulated License while license is pending.” Run by Tetsuro Takanashi and Ken Yamamoto, Kintaro will meet with D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration to get the final O.K.

Media-Marketers BrandLink Moves to M Street
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BrandLinkDC, owned and operated by Barbara Martin and Jayne Sandman, has moved its offices to 3109 M St., NW., less than one block from Georgetown’s busiest intersection. Experts in media management, events and marketing activations, Martin and Sandman deal with D.C. events along with reporters and photographers. They made a big splash in a December 2010 New York Times article, which tagged them as “the architects of the new Washington.” Washington Business Journal selected them as “Women Who Mean Business” awardees in 2012 as part of its annual award feature. They’re on the second floor. Welcome to Georgetown, ladies.

Noodles and Co. Opens Near Safeway
• July 3, 2013

Noodles and Co. opened last week at 1815 Wisconsin Ave., NW, near Safeway and Drybar. The company with hundred of locations across the U.S. has two others in D.C. — in Woodley Park and downtown. Noodles and Co. features favorites like Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, Pad Thai, Spaghetti & Meatballs and Bangkok Curry — hours, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It also has a rooftop dining space.

Washington Harbour Sold for $371 Million?
• June 20, 2013

Georgetown’s waterfront landmark, Washington Harbour has been sold, according to bisnow.com, which reported June 18: “A partnership between Principal Real Estate Investors and a Korean pension fund group is the winning bidder for MRP Realty/Rockpoint Group’s Washington Harbour, market sources tell us. … The sale price, which sources say comes in at $371M ($700/SF), represents a hefty profit for the sellers, which three years ago paid $245M for the mixed-use asset on the Georgetown waterfront. …”

The Georgetowner contacted MRP Realty about the report of the sale and received a succinct “no comment.”

Malmaison Officially Opens
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Malmaison, conceived as a lunch and dinner restaurant as well as a dessert specialty eatery and bar, was officially opened June 17 by father-son team Zubair Popal and Omar Popal. The Popal family, headed by Zubair Popal, also runs Cafe Bonaparte on Wisconsin Avenue and Napoleon Bistro and Lounge on Columbia Road. The building at 3401 K Street, NW — or 34th and Water Streets — also houses Gypsy Sally’s Acoustic Tavern on the second floor. Chef Gerard Pangaud has set up the menu for Malmaison and will cook there occasionally, but the main chef for Malmaison is Yomi Faniyi, Zubair Popal said.
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Tuscany Cafe Has Closed
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A favorite college student eatery is gone. Tuscany Cafe, the pizza and sandwich joint, next to Booeymonger’s on Prospect Street, has closed, according to the Georgetown University student newspaper, the Hoya. The newspaper also reported: “Public records show that Tuscany’s license was set to expire May 31. According to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Aokas Brothers Inc.’s license was not renewed. The DCRA could not provide information as to whether or not Tuscany applied to renew its license.”