vastu_closing
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…)


uniqlo_citycenter

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.


15429398259_9bc7a9125f_z
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.


park_place_retail
3700 block of Georgia Ave, NW

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

wells_fargo_7_11_petworth

“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_retail_petworth
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:

IMG_1345
Georgia and Quincy Ave, NW

Full press release after the jump. (more…)


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