A reader writes:
“I am happy to report I was the first customer at Qualia Coffee this morning. The cafe is lovely, the coffee strong and bursting with flavor, and the WiFi is fast and easy.”
Qualia Coffee is located at 3917 Georgia Ave.
And don’t forget the PoP Cleanup tomorrow at 10:30 am meeting at the Petworth metro by the leaf sculpture.
I know some readers won’t shed a tear to hear about Cleveland Park’s retail woes but I still have some love for Cleveland Park. I lived in Cleveland Park for 3 years and I think of her as an ex-girlfriend with whom I’ve had an amicable breakup. When I walk through Cleveland Park, I really hope she is doing well. It’s not like a bad breakup when you’re secretly psyched that your ex has gained 25 pounds. I truly wish her the best.
So I was dismayed to read last week that their Starbucks on Connecticut Ave. was closing. What I really don’t understand is that this particular store always seems to be crowded:
As you can see in the first photo, the consignment shop right next door has also closed. The McDonald’s across the street has been closed for years now. I just don’t get it. Then when I walked further up the street, it seems that the Cold Stone Creamery has closed:
I thought things were looking up when we learned a new wine store, yogurt shop and running store had recently opened up. Anyone know why such a established neighborhood is having such a hard time keeping retail? Are the rents simply to high in this economic environment?
I love this guy. He always plays Bob Dylan for me. Sadly, he doesn’t have a regular slot at Columbia Heights Coffee (11th Street b/w Monroe and Park.) The owners said he is welcome to play whenever he’d like. I chatted with him for a few moments. His name is John Carter or JC and he lives in the neighborhood (Columbia Heights). He told me he likes to play at Columbia Heights Coffee from time to time to relax and give a little something back to his neighborhood. Super nice guy.
I also spotted one super cool dog outside. (This dog will be tough competition for this Summer’s coolest pet in PoPville contest…)
Thanks to a reader for sending the news:
“I just went to check out their website and noticed it says their Qualia Coffeehouse on Georgia Ave is opening in mid-april!”
And they got a great new awning! I’ve been dreaming of an awning like this in Petworth for years!
It was briefly mentioned in a comment yesterday that the Apex Gas Station has closed (perhaps permanently?) on the southwest corner of Harvard and Sherman. And of course we learned a couple months ago of the closing of the coffee shop, Coco libre (and before that Nani’s kafe) pictured above. So it got me wondering what type of retail do you think can be sustained at this intersection? I actually think it’s a great intersection as it is really close to all the development going on around 11th Street (not super close, but close enough). A reader was gchatting with me that she thought a Chipotle would be perfect in this spot! Now there is some foot traffic around here but it’s certainly not as dense as around 14th Street. Anyway, what type of retail do you think could work at this location? Do you think once 11th Street builds up a little more that the retail growth will naturally expand one block east?
“Dear PoP,
I’m currently working full time and am a grad student and I’m looking for a coffee shop to go and get some work done on the evenings and weekends. (it’s really hard to study and write papers with a boyfriend and two cats in the house). I’m looking for some place that has comfy seating, good coffee, hopefully serves some simple food, and will be a great place to go for a few hours and work.”
We once tackled this question before but I was hoping we could have a definitive list that I could refer folks to in the future. This reader is specifically looking for spots near Petworth. I’d of course recommend Domku (800 block of Upshur) or a bit further south Columbia Heights Coffee (11th between Park and Monroe). But as we know lots of development is coming to town. So it’ll be interesting to check out Fresh Off the Roast Coffee that is slated to come to Georgia Ave (near Randolph, set to open in the next few weeks). Tynan Coffee is set to open on Irving Street near the Columbia Heights metro in the next few months. And who knows what other spots will be filled in the vacant Columbia Heights and Petworth commercial areas.
If possible I was hoping to draw up a list of the best spots to study in all of the neighborhoods in PoPville. So if you have a favorite place to work/study during the day, in addition to the name please leave some cross streets so people can find the spot. So where’s your favorite spot to work/study during the day – Big Bear (1st and R), Tryst (18th Street in Adams Morgan) one of the many Starbucks around town, Busboys & Poets (14th and V), Sticky Fingers (Park Road east of 14th Street) the library…?
Last May Cafe Collage, located on T Street just east of St. Ex, had reopened to mixed reviews. It is a great spot that seems would work well for a cafe. I spotted a new sign that says they are under new management with a new menu. Anyone check them out yet? Any fans of this spot at all?
I am an unabashed lover of Dunkin Donuts so I’m pretty excited about this possibility. However, I also dig sushi so I’m a bit torn. I noticed some construction workers inside and inquired if they knew who was coming in. They told me that Dunkin Donuts, a sushi restaurant and other potential restaurants had looked at the spot. One guy said that the first one to put money down will get it.
So all things considered which would you prefer? Of course “other restaurants” is a little vague but that’s all I could get!
Columbia Heights Coffee located on 11th Street between Park and Monroe is offering a pretty good breakfast special. Though I have to admit, I’ve become pretty addicted to the egg sandwiches and tater tots over at Red Derby… Any other good breakfast specials out there?
photo by allison_dc
A new coffee shop to be named U Street Cafe will open in its place (hopefully around late April). I was told that this is a friendly transition. I was also told that U Street Cafe will be owned by the same folks opening up the new spot Tynan to be located next to the five guys on Irving Street (which I mentioned in yesterday’s coffee news.)
I wrote that the Tynan spot, “is going to be owned by a pair of brothers named Jim and Brian Sullivan. They intend to make it a very comfortable coffee house with the motif featuring Columbia Heights history. The goal is to open up in May.”
So all in all I’d say the news isn’t too terrible.