Friday Question of the Day – Favorite Homegrown DC Business?

by Prince Of Petworth July 7, 2016 at 10:22 pm 123 Comments

favorite local filter tweet

On Wednesday when we spoke about Starbucks coming to Brookland and Filter Coffeehouse had a great reply on twitter:

“@PoPville yup, were pretty “excited” about it. Maybe we’ll put it out of business like we did at 1919 Penn Ave NW… Bring it”

I loved that response and it got me thinking about other locals that I love – thankfully, there are many. So I thought it’d be a fun Friday Question to highlight some of our favorites. It can be a restaurant, bar, coffee house, clothing, artist, really any type of retail – it just has to be local. So who are your favorite businesses born and bred in the District (or inside the Beltway)?

Love local

Glen’s Garden Market, hands down! I always think how much I will miss that place if and when I ever leave DC. Great local product/produce selection, great beer, great prepared foods, and friendly staff. Love them.
Petworther

You kidding? Greenberg Traurig is the only right answer to this. BET is a close second.
- Guillermo Brown
  
  Sweetgreen, Taylor Gourmet, and Compass Coffee. Three-way tie
  - Guillermo Brown
    
    Didn’t mean to post this here, but while I’m at it, a law firm? Pffft
  - S
    
    +1
- Ryan
  
  An international law firm founded in Miami is the only right answer? Am I missing something here?
4th Gen DC

Five Guys

Started as a single burger spot on Columbia Pike, moved to Beauregard street near NOVA, then opened second location in Old Town Alexandria. They blew up from there starting in the area, then across the country, and now they have locations around the world. They successfully challenged the heavy weights of fast food, helping to give rise to fast-casual dining that brought a rise in quality of food options. They did all of this without any paid advertisement, their rise came from word of mouth alone, either a friend/relative or magazine/newspaper recommending you eat there. They simply let their product, burgers and fries, sell their business.

Really when it comes down to it, its a decent burger, lots of free toppings options, and best way to get boardwalk fries without going to the Eastern Shore.
- E.
  
  I have a coworker who moved to Old Town Alexandria from Salt Lake City two years ago. I still laugh at his utter delight at finding out we have Five Guys here, too!
binpetworth

Chocolate Moose. I buy a lot of cards there, and it’s one of those places I’d be hard-pressed to find a replacement for if it closed.
Farragut

For me, it’s Labyrinth Games & Puzzles (by Eastern Market Metro). the owner, Kathleen, is not only awesome and friendly as ever, but she and her store give back to the community in a lot of ways, working with a lot of schools for hosting game days and such. I also have a fond memory of Labyrinth since I stumbled across the store in the middle of their soft opening just a few months after I first moved to DC. What’s great is that they’ve had enough success that they’re expanding into the space next door, too. :-)
- ShawShank
  
  That is great news – I also love their store.
- MeMe
  
  +1 Love this place!!
elizabeth

The incomparable Victoria Lai’s Ice Cream Jubilee at the Navy Yards The flavor combinations are terrific!!
- navyard
  
  +1 Ice Cream Jubilee
stacksp

Busboys & Poets
HIS Grooming Lounge
monkeyrotica

Mangialardo’s, Litteri’s, Swings Coffee, MGM Roast Beef, Deli City, Union Meat Company, Second Story Books.
stacksp

BET
Otis Gal

DC Reynolds
Pleasant Pops
Red Rocks
Chez Billy
Upshur Street Books
Kramer Books
Politics & Prose
Room 11
Bus Boys & Poets
Red Fox
Big Bear
- Petworth neighbor
  
  I was also going to list the bookstores–Upshur, Kramerbooks, P&P
anon

I’m surprised no one’s said SweetGreen yet.
- nyterp
  
  meh, they’ve moved their headquarters to LA…
nyterp

Compass Coffee
Jessica

2Amys, hands down. Followed by The Chocolate House, Locolat (sadly closed), Room 11, & Union Market.
Huma

BicycleSpace, Vace’s (although they started in Bethesda so ehhh…), Litteri’s, Cork and Fork and Calvert Woodley.
CPT_Doom

Gotta be the DC Eagle, after 40 years and 4 locations, although I’ve only known the last two. After the Pulse massacre, it’s even more important to me to have a “safe space” like the Eagle, plus I know the owners and lots of the regulars, so it can feel like a community center and not a bar at times.
SilverSpringGal

Since I feel like it’s being left out & it brings tourists in from all over – Georgetown Cupcake
- stacksp
  
  +1
  
  Definitely deserves a mention. Add that to my list. My wife stops past on her way home from Clarendon and grabs a box for the kids all the time
- ChillyDC
  
  I was going to post the same (expecting to be shouted down in the comments by Baked & Wired fans). Their cupcakes are great, even if the cupcake thing is over. But you have to know how to order like a local to skip the line.
  - MtP
    
    I used to like Baked and Wired better, but I now find their cupcakes too sweet and heavy. I think Georgetown Cupcakes are actually very good.
  - Anon
    
    I actually did not like them when they first came out. I’m a huge sweet/cupcake fan but their cupcakes were just TOO sweet, no distinguishable flavor. However a few years back they upped their game. Still not on a B&W level, but pretty tasty nonetheless
  - Pixie
    
    I love B&W something fierce, I had their cupcakes at my wedding. But sometimes I find their cupcakes too big and heavy. And I think Georgetown Cupcake has better frosting. I like the other baked goods at B&W better than their cupcakes – the dessert bars, pies (omg the hand pies) and the muffins/quick breads are all to die for.
    - Anon
      
      Love B&W cupcakes (it takes a few sittings to get through one), but I agree their other baked goods are superior. Somehow even their cake slices are better than their cupcakes? I dunno, but they are
Kevin

It’s a tie between Qualia and the Bike Rack.
- samanda_bynes
  
  yeah Qualia rules.
Moe

Taylor Gourmet
- Joe C
  
  Taylor started in Philly
  - CODEL
    
    No, it may be a Philly-inspired sandwich shop and the guys come from Philly, but its first location was on H Street.
    - Joe C
      
      Oh yea. You right.
- stacksp
  
  I’ve never been to Taylor Gourmet. I think I will finally try it today for lunch.
  - ANM
    
    I was always disappointed with their sandwiches. They just weren’t anything special, IMHO. And their bread was hard and shredded the roof of my mouth. Perhaps your experience will be different.
    - Truxton Thomas
      
      They were good when they launched, but quickly went downhill.
      - Anon
        
        +1 Not a fan. Their delivery drivers are also all terrible people. Our office now refuses to order from them even though it’s the most convenient lunch meeting spot (I must say, I do sort of miss their risotto balls, even though they can be hit or miss)
    - stacksp
      
      Aww man, don’t tell me that. People rave about it on here often. I am walking distance to the K St location. Going to try it in a few hours.
      - MtP
        
        My suggestion would be to stick with a classic, like an Italian or chicken cutlet (my favorite is the Vine Street or Ben Franklin). Also, don’t get the wheat bread, its awful. It was incredible when it opened, but it has become more mass produced, so is basically just a good sandwich shop now. I go there all the time when I want a good sandwich, but I don’t go out of my way to seek it out like I used to.
      - MtP
        
        Also, the traditional roast pork hoagies are good too if that is what you’re in the mood for. I would just steer clear of some of the crazier seasonal ones – I’ve had bad luck with those.
    - JD
      
      They have soft rolls now! Which makes eating a little easier! I love Taylor, but did find the bread a little on the crunchy side.
Joe C

Im saying Matchbox – they started here, right?
ANC

Compass is my favorite, hands down, followed by Union Market.
Pixie

Baked and Wired, Dolcezza, Politics and Prose, Kramer Books. And shout out to my local tiny coffee house La Mano. I love them and hope they stick around once Starbucks moves to the neighborhood.
- Clueless
  
  +1 for Baked & Wired
- Anon
  
  All of your picks are perfect. I approve!
- GM
  
  I think La Mano will survive, if only because its small small space doesn’t really encourage (or barely allow for) sitting for hours on end. The rumored-Starbucks will presumably cater more towards people who want to stay for a while. It also doesn’t hurt that the La Mano staff is great and those baked goods are out of this world.
SWchick

Cava Grill
The Carolina Kitchen
- stacksp
  
  Carolina Kitchen is another one.
- Anon
  
  Wow, didn’t realize Cava started here. Right on
- Pixie
  
  +1 for Cava! I can’t believe I forgot that they started here. I love them.
SG

Bakehouse at 14th and T was up there but is now production-only (no retail)
Pretzel Bakery is pretty amazing, though the new location lacks charm.
Compass Coffee is my favorite coffee shop anywhere (including Portland/Seattle)
Stachowski has the best deli sandwiches I’ve ever had, and is one of the best values given their immense size. It puts places like Katz’s in NY to shame IMO.
Toki Underground. Enough said
Bagels, Etc. It’s nothing groundbreaking but always incredibly satisfying and priced right
Mangliardo & Sons. Wish they were open at night and at least on one weekend day, but these are incredible subs.

UNDERRATED: Souk on Barracks Row. I have a feeling Pineapples & Pearls has stolen a lot of their business though…

The ones that really need our support are the non-food retailers (“dry goods” + services). They are the ones that the internet and delivery services pressure the most. I have to admit I am not good about frequenting these places, since I spend most of my disposable income eating and drinking rather than on “things”, but I do fear we will slowly lose many of them due to competition with Amazon, etc.
- SassyinDC
  
  Yes!
  
  Souk is my daughter’s and my favorite spot for an afternoon snack.
  
  Pretzel Bakery is one of our favorites when we are asked to bring something for a neighborhood potluck here in Hillcrest (East of the River). It’s a no-brainer for Octoberfest.
Dwight

Sullivan’s Toy Store and also Middle C Music. Both are local one store beauties on upper Wisconsin Avenue. And both fill a niche not otherwise found from nearby neighborhood stores.

Sullivan’s has been at 2 locations (or more) over the years, and besides toys has a nice arts and crafts area.

Middle C has been here for 10 years and sells, teaches and makes many kinds of music.
MtP

So many great truly local spots, that it is hard to pick. As far as home-grown businesses that are growing/expanding, I would say Cava, Taylor, and Compass are my favorite.
Truxton Thomas

Kramerbooks, Big Bear, Stoney’s, Madam’s Organ, Bub and Pop’s, Zenebech Injera
Clueless

Bethesda Bagels
n3

Compass Coffee, Cava, Busboys and Poets, Pete’s Apizza. Sweet Green is also good.
- n3
  
  I took the question to mean “homegrown chains.” Obviously, there are one-off restaurants that are very very good.
  - Prince Of Petworth
    
    Nope not homegrown chains just homegrown!
- MtP
  
  Pete’s is a great choice. I had Pepe’s in New Haven last year, and honestly, Pete’s is nearly as good.
Kd

What about things other than food? I love me some Bailiwick
L

Meat & Foods
Cork market
Lyman’s Tavern
A. Litteri’s
Anon

Baked and Wired, Filter, Medium Rare, Steak N’ Eggs…. and the concept of unlimited mimosas at brunch. Probably not a native DC idea but I It feels like it. I lived in Chicago many years and been to many cities around the country and never saw that many restaurants going for the unlimited. Maybe now is a popular thing around the country, but 3-4 years ago DC restaurants were going crazy with that and friends from out of town loved it.
My wife loves it too! Lol
- jrr_mtv
  
  love Medium Rare.
Anons

Pete’s Apizza!
.
Also — Unity Woods Yoga Studio, Le CapriceYou didnt mean just one, did you :) ??
Mary

Green Hat, for sure.
madeleine

Capitol Hill Books, Peregrine Espresso, Busboys and Poets, Maketto, Clothes Encounters of a Second Kind
- NoMa NE Resident
  
  I have to add another shout out for Peregrine Espresso. They have some of the best coffee in the city, and the owners are very supportive of other coffee shops in the city. They were offered the space on 6th and I (now occupied by La Colombe…) and turned down the offer because they did not want to infringe on the business of another local shop (Chinatown Coffee Co) a few blocks away.
Near Northeast

Fia’s Fabulous Finds for thrifting, Uprising and Pretzel Bakery for baked goods.
Anonalisa

Solidcore!
OP Anon

No love for the largest waster of paper menus in DC – Manny & Olga’s?!?
- marybindc
  
  Meh, they’ve gone downhill since they no longer traffic in stolen cell phones.
  - textdoc
    
    LOL!
- stacksp
  
  Big Manny and Olgas fan ten years ago. So many more have popped up since the G Town Location and the U St Location.
  
  $10 bucks used to be a full Chicken Cheese Steak, a bunch of fries and a can soda. My cheap late night guilty pleasure before going in the house at 2 or 3 am
Anon

Carlyle
- d
  
  I’m more impressed with Danaher.
marybindc

Metro Mutts. Petco can piss off for opening a store a block away.
AdmsMgn

Vida Fitness – the facilities are nice and clean, the equipment works or is quickly repaired, and they have great class offerings.
Elvis’s Mom

Wagtime! What? I spend all my money on my dog and proud of it.
anonymouse_dianne

Jim Henson and the Muppets – out of College Park U MD
- Truxton Thomas
  
  Good call!
- binpetworth
  
  Ooh, forgot about his local connection. +1!
Nathan

Menomale is my favorite pizza in DC and The Capital Candy Jar makes a great banana marshmallow peanut butter cup s’more.
Shaw

Mine was Universal Gear, which sadly announced they were closing both of their stores this morning :(
dcd

Kapnos
Medium Rare
Baked ‘N Wired
Pleasant Pops
- dcd
  
  And Cava. If I had an entrepreneurial spirit, I’d try to open a Cava franchise in college towns all over the East Coast. (I even saw the perfect sport for one in Chapel Hill.) Then, in a few years, I’d be able to do a Scrooge McDuck dive into all my piles of cash. Sigh.
Anon

Anything Jose Andres. Yes, DC is just now recovering from the tapas onslaught, but he really helped put DC on the map as a food destination. All of your favorite DC chefs owe him. I lived here back when we were the land of mediocre steak houses
- Cassie
  
  +1
- textdoc
  
  I don’t think we’re ever going to recover from the tapas onslaught — I’m not seeing any decline in “small plates” establishments.
Herewegoagain

I’m giving a shoutout to Annies Ace. Yes, it’s a franchise, but she done a great job with her stores and I think they qualify as homegrown.

And beer. Port City is just over the border, as is Three Stars, but they are great.
- JS
  
  Three Stars is inside the DC city line (if that especially matters).
D

I’m partial to Asylum…which became Smoke & Barrel, along with Meridian Pint and Brookland Pint.
tlindc

G! and Kapnos.
Cassie

Exposing my upper NW roots:
Giffords
Child’s Play
Tastee Diner
Marriott/Hot Shoppes (non-smoking in states that still allow smoking public buildings!)
- Cassie
  
  Frager’s!
Beau

my least favorite is Congress
- MsSunshine
  
  It started in Philadelphia.
  - soozles
    
    LOL!
  - marybindc
    
    HAHAHA – well played!
  - Elvis’s Mom
    
    HA!
J used to be in DC

compass coffee. I miss it so much. I always go when I’m in town for work and bring coffee back.
MsSunshine

Agree with KramerBooks and Politics and Prose.
House of Musical Traditions (Does Takoma Park count)?
Crepes at the Market
banananonymous

Ted’s Bulletin, Julia’s Empanadas, and the plethora of bars that have closed in the last year, including, but not limited to, Millie & Al’s, Dan’s Café and Stetson’s
- Mere
  
  Dan’s is still open!
Stavros

Politics & Prose
Vace
Frances

Miss Pixies, Compass Coffee, Balance Gym!
DC1

Compass Coffee hands down!
soozles

Mt. Pleasant Pharmacy
Petworth Citizen
Yes Organic
Dupont Italian Kitchen
Hank’s Oyster Bar
caroline n jackson

chix and yoga heights
Red

How has there been no mention yet of The Coffee Bar? Love that place and it’s owner.
Duponter

Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse
Truxtoner

DCity Smokehouse
up, sure

930 club.
Philippe Lecheval

Ted’s
Long Fence
U.S. Government
Ringtail

I like Metro Mutts. Hope the H Street NE location survives the arrival of Petsmart.
l

Vace!
lmfb

The Passenger, long may she reign
BicycleSPACE
Compass Coffee
Homegoods
Salt & Sundry
Buttercream Bakery (new fav)
Rose’s Luxury

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