1335 2nd Street, NE

The owners write:

“Thaaja launch party is this Thursday March 14th from 12 PM onwards. First 100 wraps/bowls will be free and $3 the rest of the day (limit one per customer).”

Thaaja opened in late Jan. at 1335 2nd Street, NE by the Courtyard Marriott and the NoMa metro.  You can see their menu here.

At the end of Jan. Corner Bakery’s prime spot closed in Union Station (though they’ll open a new spot nearby at 500 North Capitol St, NW.) Thanks to Amanda Wagner for sending photos of the new tenant – Le Pain Quotidien.

Who do you prefer Corner Bakery or Le Pain Quotidien?

A couple weeks ago we noted one of the longest coming soon signs in town was about to become a reality. Thanks to MG for sending word that as of this morning Einstein Bros. Bagels has opened in Union Station (next to Jamba Juice on the 1st floor.)

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@IAFF35 first tweeted:

“1200 North Capitol St NW multiple shooting treating 8 patients.”

@DCPoliceDept then tweeted:

“1D-Shooting multiple victims all conscious & breathing, 1200 North Capitol Street NW, LOF Blue BMW, 2D, older model, tag unk.//2237.”

This morning Washington Post reports:

Police are investigating an overnight shooting on a busy D.C. street corner that left as many as 11 people wounded, one of them seriously, authorities said.

Assistant Police Chief Peter Newsham said gunmen in two dark-colored cars opened fire just after 2 a.m. on a crowd of people outside Tyler House, an eight-story, subsidized residential building on the south side of New York Avenue at North Capitol Street.

It seems like Einstein Bagels has been “coming soon” to Union Station (next to Jamba Juice) for years. But now the plywood has come down and it actually looks like it really will be opening soon!

And in other Union Station retail news – The Body Shop Boutique will be reopening in March:

After a slight reprieve the Barnes and Noble is closing in Union Station today. The Hill is Home hears from a Barnes and Noble employee that an H&M clothing store will open up in the space this summer.

So let’s take this opportunity to see what DC’s the other former big bookstores have become. In Friendship Heights the Borders became a DSW, at 18th and L St, NW the Borders is becoming a Nordstrom Rack. The former Borders at 14th and F St, NW became The Hamilton. The Barnes and Noble in Georgetown became a Nike Store. Am I missing any others?

This rental is located at 1033 5th Street, NE:

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The listing says:

“GREAT, RENOVATED EFFICIENCY BASEMENT APARTMENT, WITH A DEN, WALL-TO-WALL CARPETING, STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, GRANITE COUNTERS, CERAMIC TILES, FRESHLY PAINTED. CLOSE TO THE NOMA-GALLAUDET (NEW YORK AVENUE/FLORIDA AVENUE) METRORAIL STATION, DOWNTOWN DC, ROUTE 50, CAPITOL HILL, H STREET CORRIDOR. VOUCHER PROGRAM WELCOME.”

This efficiency is going for $1,100/Mo.

Photo by PoPville flickr user mosley.brian

The following was written by Ben Ball. Ben is a transportation nerd in his spare time and lives in LeDroit Park.

Crossing the northern part of downtown is a hassle.  Jammed buses, increasing traffic, and maxed out Metro stations are already part of daily life for those who live or work in the area.  The District’s transportation planners realize this, and are already working on new transit options for the long corridor between Union Station and Georgetown.

DDOT held the first in a series of public meetings to lay out options, ask for feedback, and ultimately make a decision on how to proceed.  To a certain extent, DDOT has already tipped its hand – the choice is really between an expansion of the forthcoming H St streetcar line and the creation of a “bus rapid transit” system.  Given the investment the District has already made in streetcars, this is likely the pre-ordained choice.  In order to satisfy Federal funding guidelines, however, DDOT has to officially consider other options, including the possibility of not building anything.

Where would this new transit option go?  Between Mt Vernon Square and Washington Circle, there is really only one viable route.  K St is not only a straight shot through the area, but it also has the small frontage roads which can easily be repurposed into a streetcar line or a dedicated space for buses.  M St is theoretically another option, but there’s the whole problem of Thomas Circle to deal with, and the street width doesn’t allow for much creativity.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

This new rental building is called Aria on L Street. We last checked on its progress back in Oct. 2012. Like the way it turned out?

From a press release:

Fisher Brothers, a family owned, multi-generational real estate development and investment company, today announced the groundbreaking of 701 2nd Street, NE. The development is the first Class A mixed-use apartment in the historic Capitol Hill and H Street neighborhood.

701 2nd Street, NE is a 10-story, 398,103 square foot building comprised of 377 apartments on the ground to 10th floor, approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space located along H, 2nd, and G Streets, and 309 parking spaces located on two floors below-grade.

“701 2nd Street will deliver an unparalleled level of amenities and services providing its residents not just an apartment, but a lifestyle that’s as vibrant and exciting as the surrounding Capitol Hill/H Street neighborhood,” said Fisher Brothers partner Winston Fisher. “Whether it’s relaxing at the building’s rooftop pools and cabanas or discovering a new area chef at one of the tasting events, residents need not leave their home for entertainment, discovery and excitement. From the exquisite interior finishes and design, the convenience of its central Capitol Hill to H Street location, the building is tailor-made for the urban resident who seeks convenience to work — and all conveniently located in a neighborhood hosting Washington’s newest restaurants and burgeoning retail corridor.”

The location of the development offers more convenient access to mass transit than any other luxury multifamily project in Washington, DC with covered access via an entrance across 2nd Street to Union Station, allowing access to every major mass transit provider in Washington, DC (Amtrak, Metro, VRE and MARC). There is slated more than 210,000 square feet of high end retail space, including more than 100 specialty shops and 50,000 square feet of restaurant space.

The units have been designed to accommodate the young urban professionals that populate the area. With this target market in mind, the building is strategically designed with a majority of one bedroom and two bedrooms units tailored to individuals living alone or with roommates. Interior finishes and fixtures have been designed by the Rockwell Group, one of the nation’s most imaginative interior design firms. All elements of the interiors combine to create and aesthetic that is elegant, comfortable, light and modern. Open kitchens feature Quartzite Vulcano countertops, subway tile backsplashes and stainless steel appliances. Kitchens and living areas include Plank Hickory Flooring while bedrooms will have carpet. The bathrooms are finished with top-of-the-line fixtures including Kohler toilets, Duravit tubs and Grohe faucets and shower heads. All the units will have stacked washer and dryers.

The 10-story building is to be constructed utilizing a masonry and window wall façade with concrete super structure. The exterior spaces will be extensively landscaped with interior and exterior gardens, water features, and rooftop decks will be certified LEED Silver and feature green roofs, and eco pond, and passive street storm water reclamation.

Besides Rockwell Group, the project team includes Hickok Cole Architects, Handel Architects, Plaza Construction, Landworks Studio for landscape design and retail leasing from Streetsense.

Residents will also enjoy:

• 24 Hour Lobby Concierge
• Working Lounge
• Kitchen and Tasting Tables
• Media Hub
• Party Room
• Fitness Center
• Rooftop Indoor / Outdoor Party Room
• Interior / Exterior Water Feature
• Eco Pond and Gardens
• Integrated Lobby Level Leasing Center
• Library Lounge
• Business Center
• Community Bulletin Wall
• Gaming Lounge
• Interior Pet Spa with exterior dog walk
• Rooftop Pool and Deck
• Rooftop Cabanas / Grill Areas
• Exterior Activity Courtyard
• Rooftop Community Gardens

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Thanks to a reader for sending word that the new Tropicana kiosk has opened in the former Tops Frozen Yogurt space in Union Station:

“It will be open for 30 days and sells juice and hummus.”

1309 5th Street, NE

Union Market continues to get more options. I stopped by on Sunday and it was smashed crowded. Since I last stopped by in December – Red Apron and Cordial Wine have now opened and Takorean has applied for a liquor license.

And I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for a roof deck beer garden one day…

Dear PoPville,

Some potential news about the former fro-yo place in the upstairs of Union Station by the Pret (which was speculated to become a Burger King Express). I saw some workers working on the space yesterday, and I asked them what was going to go there. They said that it would be a “Tropicana,” and that it would be temporary. This is a bit confusing to me— does this mean it will be a juice stand? (Are there freestanding Tropicana dispensaries?) Also, there are now a bunch of Tropicana ads in the Union Station Metro, so maybe the old fro-yo spot will just be ad space until something new comes in. Just thought I’d pass this news on!

Tops frozen yogurt opened up next to the Pret a Manager in Union Station back in Nov. 2011. I hear that the owners recently opened up a Burger King in the food court on the lower level and are considering making this small space something like a Burger King express.

On Sunday Corner Bakery will be closing in Union Station:

But for those who are big fans, fear not, a new one is opening up nearby – photos after the jump. (more…)