Signage Up for Michael’s Arts and Crafts coming to Friendship Heights

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by Prince Of Petworth August 1, 2016 at 3:45 pm 6 Comments

michael's
5252 Wisconsin Ave, NW

A good week for crafters, last Friday we learned that Artist & Craftsman Supply was already open in Brentwood. Thanks to Jackie for sending more good news on the crafting front:

“Michaels craft store coming to Jenifer st in friendship heights” in the former former TJ Maxx space.

Anon

Can we just talk about the beautiful architecture for a moment?
- ***
  
  Yeah.. the upper level parking garage concept rarely produces great architecture. There really isn’t a shortage of parking in this area either – I don’t think of the garages or lots are ever at capacity.
Blithe

When this was built, most of the nearby parking consisted of dedicated surface parking lots associated with specific department stores — such as the nearby Lord and Taylor lots. The building also abuts a Metro bus garage that has been the site of a bus or streetcar garage for decades. My guess is that the goal of the design for this building was utility and a sense of modernness, rather than architectural significance. I’d also guess that the parking garage placated the neighbors, who would have been concerned about customers using the limited parking on nearby residential streets.
– Glad that the Michaels will be filling the old tj maxx space.
– Related question: There is active construction going on at the old Lord and Taylor lot between Jennifer St, Western Avenue and the Mazza Gallery. Does anyone know what the plans are for the lot?
- Anonymous
  
  The lot between Jenifer, Western and Mazza Gallerie (sometimes called the “Home Plate Lot” because of its shape) is currently being used by Pepco to stage its work on the substations and power lines in the area. There had been plans, approved by the BZA, for retail and restaurants on that lot, but it appeared as though the developer was having difficulty lining up tenants, and they let the zoning approval lapse.
  
  The Michaels space used to be a very popular two-screen movie theater, the Jenifer, with its entrance on Wisconsin, which later became a dollar theater and eventually closed. When popular movies were being shown, cars filled the available parking on nearby residential streets.
  - Blithe
    
    Thank you for this information! I also applaud and admire your correct spelling of both “Jenifer Street” AND “Mazza Gallerie”! :-)
ontarioroader

I still subconsciously avoid all Michael’s since they were oddly collocated with a number of the DC Sniper shooting locations. Silly because I know there ended up being no connection, but still remember my employer reminding us all to avoid certain locations, and Michael’s was on “the list”.

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