If you walked by 14th and U Street this weekend you may have seen some activity going on in the 14U cafe. I had reported back on May 1st that 14U had temporarily closed so I was surprised to see some activity. I was also a bit confused when I saw some bags in the front of the store. So as I’m peeking into the store one of the owners pops out and invites me in. The owners, Marlene and Kyle Shaw were super nice and explained to me what was going on. It turns out there are some pretty significant changes going on. In order to make the spot profitable they’re going to turn the spot into a cafe and boutique. And as you can see from the window the boutique will be very heavily focussed on hand bags as well as custom made jewelry. But there will also be coffee, smoothies and other drinks. Unfortunately, the layout of the store will change as there will be less seating to accommodate more display space. I have to admit I find the change to be a bit disappointing but I understand the need to be profitable. And given the fact that the owners were so nice I certainly do wish them luck. Also, the fact that they were considering turning the spot into a dentist office makes me appreciate the Cafe and Boutique choice much more. (Interestingly, Marlene is a also a dentist but she has a “passion for fashion”.) And on another potentially good note they may apply for outdoor seating which would make up for the limited seating inside.
If you have questions you can email the owners at [email protected]
So, what do you think of the new plans?
A photo of owners Marlene and Kyle Shaw and some of their bags after the jump. (more…)
