3DG Has Ceremonial Groundbreaking at former Bi-Rite in Columbia Heights

IMG_7962, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

I unfortunately missed the actual ceremony but I was able to catch the celebrations afterward. Pictured above is James O’Brien, owner of Red Rocks, John Andrade, owner of Asylum and the upcoming Meridian Pint, and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham. I also spoke with 3DG owner, John Goldman (photo after the jump) who told me that a fence will go up around the old Bi-Rite building and demolition will take place in less than two weeks. By the end of the summer Mr. Goldman hopes to move 3DG headquarters into the second floor offices. Mr. Andrade hopes to have the restaurant/bar Meridian Pint open by December. Sounds pretty ambitious but I’m certainly looking forward to it.

And now for the exciting but somewhat unrelated news from Councilmember Jim Graham. Graham hopes to work with Metro to convert the little park (owned by Metro) directly across the street from Red Rocks on the southwest corner of 11th and Park into a dog park! Graham asked O’Brien and Andrade if they supported the idea and they were 100% behind it. Stay tuned for more info on that front.

More photos and info on the 3DG building after the jump.

Mr. Goldman, pictured above, told me a little bit more about the history of 3DG. It is one of the few firms “born and raised” in Columbia Heights. Mr. Goldman started 3DG with his wife out of their home on Parkwood Place. Goldman was very proud of his Columbia Heights background and mentioned that 3DG had been involved in over 25 project in Columbia Heights. He was super excited about having their headquarters return to Columbia Heights as he has recently been “exiled” in Georgetown.

From the press release:

“Breathing New Life into a Neighborhood Commercial Corridor
3400 11th Street sits prominently at the northern end of a long but underutilized neighborhood commercial corridor. With this project, both the streetscape and the commercial life of the street will be rejuvenated. Meridian Pint will occupy the entire ground floor and a portion of the lower level. Owner John Andrade, who has co-owned Asylum in Adams Morgan with his brother since 1991, plans to offer an American comfort-food menu with a generous vegetarian/vegan section; 20 beers on tap with an emphasis on Belgians; and a wide selection of wines and mixed drinks. The lower level will feature a lounge and bar area, and DJ entertainment is contemplated.

The second floor of the building will contain approximately 3,000 square feet of office space. 3DG co-founder and CEO John Goldman stated, “Office space enhances the mixed-use character of the street by introducing a new layer of activity during the daytime, which animates the streetscape and, most importantly, provides support to existing and new businesses along the corridor.”
3DG itself will occupy one of the two office suites, and Solimar International, a tourism development firm dedicated to promoting the goals of sustainable tourism, will occupy the other.
Additional space is available on the lower level, with theater, arts and entertainment tenants being sought.”

Get one last look because it is going to be very different very soon.