Retail

Buttercream Bakeshop Popping up at Cork Market Friday (and the following Friday)

By Prince Of Petworth

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1805 14th Street, NW

From a press release:

“Tiffany MacIsaac, Chef and Owner of Buttercream Bakeshop, is partnering with Khalid Pitts and Diane Gross, Proprietors of Cork Market & Tasting Room, to offer her acclaimed scratch-baked cakes and confections at a two-day event. Buttercream Bakeshop Uncorked! will take place Friday, November 7th, and again on Friday, November 14th, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Buttercream Bakeshop will offer two different cakes, as well as boxes of assorted sweets, for pre-sale at each pop-up. Chef MacIsaac’s famed “Cookie Monster” — a brown sugar chocolate chip cake with cookies and cream buttercream and eggless cookie dough layers, topped with a crown of mini oatmeal cream pies — will be a feature the first week, along with peanut butter Ho-Ho’s and Coffee-raspberry marshmallows. The second pop-up will see Fruity Pebbles Rice Krispies treats and Gingerbread cream pies from Chef MacIsaac, along with her “Fat Elvis”-bits-all cake with peanut butter buttercream layers and a swirl of caramel, topped with candied bacon bits-all available for pre-order. To order these confections for pick-up at the pop-ups, please visit the website www.buttercreamdc.com. A complete menu of pre-sale items and prices are included below.

For each Friday pop-up, Buttercream Bakeshop will also offer her Roasted Beet Red Velvet cake by the slice, as well as other on the spot to-go treats, such as Macarons and Oatmeal cream pies. Cork Market will also offer sparkling and dessert wines to complement Buttercream Bakeshop’s creations. Khalid and Diane will be pouring tastes of their favorite selections at each pop-up, bottles of which will be available for purchase to take home and enjoy with Chef MacIsaac’s delectable treats.”

Fyubi makeup & brow studio opens on U Street

By Prince Of Petworth

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1522 U Street, NW

Fyubi makeup & brow studio has opened up in the former Foundry Furnishings space on U Street. Their website says:

Fyubi makeup and brow studio launched in 2008. Our mission is to blend trendy and traditional techniques to create looks that are appropriate and fun for every client.

Flaminia garioni (flami) is a makeup artist and Eyebrow specialist with over 15 years of experience. She began her makeup career as a traveling artist for major brands such as NARS, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, Armani and Stila Cosmetics to name a few. flami’s clientele includes celebrities, white house & capitol hill staffers. “I enjoy personal time with my clients, it allows me to cater to every woman’s beauty needs individually. ” as an independent artist, flami books on site services or works out of her private studio.

Flaminia gives back to her community and supports various charities. She is especially dedicated to ending domestic violence. she lost her mother yubi, a hair stylist who was well known in both Italy and the usa, and her brother diego in 1991. “they are my inspiration and I believe that my passion for beauty combined with my voice can make a difference in a woman’s self esteem and give her confidence to believe in herself.”

You can see their services here.

2 Armadillos Hand-Roasted Chickpeas coming to Columbia Heights Plaza

By Prince Of Petworth

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3239 14th Street, NW

Interesting replacement for Julia’s Empanadas Columbia Heights location which closed back in January of 2013 – 2 Armadillos Hand-Roasted Chickpeas. Though on twitter 2 Armadillos say “we are figuring out our office space” so it’s not yet clear what, if any, walk in retail component there will be.

Their website says:

Our first batch of crispy chickpeas was made in a tiny New York City oven that was so old it didn’t even have numbers on the dials. The year was 2011, and Greg was just a hungry medical student looking to get through a crazy day at work without running to the vending machine for a bag of chips or a candy bar. He started roasting chickpeas at night, seasoning them with whatever was in the cupboard, and throwing them in a plastic bag to help deal with his daily 4:00pm hunger pangs. His coworkers would look over with curiosity when they heard the afternoon crunching, and inevitably he would offer up some snacks. They were a hit! That’s when he realized he was on to something special, but it would be a while before he had the idea to start a business.

Jimmy and Greg would frequently discuss the many problems with our food system: it’s responsible for the current obesity and diabetes epidemics, it’s bad for the planet, and it creates an environment that perpetuates malnutrition and food insecurity. It had been over a year since Greg started making his chickpeas in that tiny NYC kitchen when everything finally clicked. Jimmy had finished a big real estate deal and they were brainstorming new projects for him to take on. It was on a whim that Greg suggested they start a business to create a better snacking alternative. He never expected Jimmy to get as excited as he did. And just like that, they couldn’t stop talking about how the broken food system was ripe for the 2Armadillos revolution.

You can see info their snacks here.

Looking forward to seeing how the store turns out.

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Vastu Furniture Store Closing at the End of November after 11.5 years on 14th Street

By Prince Of Petworth

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1829 14th Street, NW

From an email:

“It is with great sadness that we announce that Vastu will be closing soon.
It has been a wonderful 11 1/2 years and we are very sorry to see it end. We simply couldn’t absorb the financial burden caused by increased costs and lowered revenue during last year’s short change in ownership.

During our time on 14th St, we have taken great pride and delight in being invited into your homes and lives, asked to help make them a little more comfortable and stylish, and we cherish the friendships we’ve made along the way. It has been an adventure watching the neighborhood go from a retail wasteland where we needed to bring lunch if we wanted to eat that day to one where there are seemingly endless options for all-day drunken brunches.

Our closing isn’t immediate and we will of course be delivering orders to those of you who still have them outstanding. (more…)

Google Confirms Uniqlo coming to CityCenter?!?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Thanks to a reader for passing on from reddit. A user noted that if you type Uniqlo into google it comes up as CityCenterDC (825 10th St, NW) – see screenshot above I took a few minutes ago. Almost exactly a year ago we thought craigslist had confirmed uniqlo when an ad for “UNIQLO Manager Candidate Program – Retail Sales – new” popped up for Washington, DC. Yes, yes, not everyone likes their clothing. Noted. But for those who do – this is one more reason to get excited! Though it still may be worth taking with a grain of a salt as their website makes no mention of a Washington DC expansion:

“Our clothes are functional, designed with innovative features and available in a wide range of colors and styles. Our designers are artistic apparel engineers, dedicated to finding elegant solutions to common garment dilemmas. We now operate more than 1,400 stores in 16 countries worldwide. This fall we will open 18 new stores in the US, in addition to the already 21 in the Northeast and the San Francisco Bay Area. We will be expanding into new markets including Boston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia metro areas.”

UPDATE: CityCenter Rep says they aren’t coming. According to OP, Uniqlo says it’s news to them so they can’t confirm or deny.

Duke’s Shoe Repair at Reeves Center only open for pick up on Saturday due to possible health problems

By Prince Of Petworth

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14th and V St, NW

Thanks to a reader for sending:

“Duke’s Shoe Repair has been closed without comment for a couple weeks now. It is the large shoe repair store attached to the Reeve Center. I heard someone outside saying he had health problems, but I don’t know if that’s true. I just saw a note saying that it will be open this saturday and next saturday. I thought you might want to spread the word for other readers who have been missing their shoes and are wondering what Duke’s story is.”

Wishing Duke a speedy recovery.

Add 7-Eleven and Wells Fargo Bank to Dunkin Donuts as the new Retail coming to Park Place in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

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3700 block of Georgia Ave, NW

The tale of the Park Place blue tape continues – thanks to a reader for sending the update:

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“I came home to ParkPlace in Petworth tonight to pieces of tape on the retail stores with names of businesses on them. It looks like Dunkin Donuts, 7-Eleven, and Wells Fargo are moving in.”

Wait – we waited how long for this?!?! Jeez – it’s not like there are approximately 8,000 bodega/corner/convenience stores in a four a block radius from here – not to mention there is an actual 7-Eleven just up the block – oof I guess a bank is good. Or is someone just writing names on blue tape and having a serious laugh – no if that were the case they’d have written TGIFriday’s…

Park Place at Petworth Metro Sells for $62 million – Retail Finally to be Filled! I’m hearing a Bank, small restaurant, and other retail are on the way

By Prince Of Petworth

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Park Place apartments at New Hampshire and Georgia Ave, NW

The wait for retail/restaurants at Park Place has been exhausting for those that live nearby (no disrespect to Sala Thai, Subway and Cricket). That wait, knock wood – knock wood, is almost over. Globest reported:

“TA Realty is acquiring the apartment building at 850 Quincy St NW for approximately $62 million or $385,093 per unit.”

I’m told the building will stay rental and for retail we can expect a bank, small restaurant and other retail coming soon. Here’s where I think the bank will be located:

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Georgia and Quincy Ave, NW

Full press release after the jump. (more…)

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