Retail - PoPville

Logan Circle Scuttlebutt – Urban Outfitters Eyeing a Space on 14th St, NW?

Published April 11, 2012 at 10:22PM

1728th 14th St, NW

Back in Oct. 2011 I started hearing rumors that Urban Outfitters was looking to open in the U Street area. I finally heard that they may have narrowed their search. A very reliable source says they are looking at that odd brick building at 1728th 14th St, NW between Crown Pawnbrokers and Redeem clothing store. At one point, a commenter previously said, this building was home to a International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. Do you think this would be a good location for an Urban Outfitters?

Fit To Be Tan Opens on U Street

By Prince Of Petworth

Published April 11, 2012 at 10:05PM

While we knew 1626 U St, NW was going to become a “sunless tanning experience” plus “a shop of antique curiosities and rare finds”, it’s wild to see it in person. You can read more about Fit to be Tan here.

I’m still not sure if this is bizarrely awesome or just bizarre:

Pie Sisters Shooting for a TV Series in Georgetown

By Prince Of Petworth

Published April 11, 2012 at 1:30PM

Pie Sisters via piesisters.com

Dear PoPville,

From the annals of Not a Surprise: I stopped in to Pie Sisters this evening, and the place was filled with camera equipment. They’re apparently shooting a pilot (or rather, a reel, with which I guess they will try to get a pilot — I don’t know how these things work). Despite my distaste for the concept of opening a business to get a reality tv show, they do make delicious pies. The key lime is amazing, but it’s really the exceptional crust that makes them so good.

Pie Sisters is located in Georgetown at 3421 M St, NW. You can see their menu here.

Does Georgetown have room for two sister owned dessert centric television reality series?

Uh Oh – Best Buy Closing in Columbia Heights?

By Prince Of Petworth

Published April 11, 2012 at 10:30AM | Updated April 11, 2012 at 1:44PM

A couple of weeks ago Best Buy announced it would be closing 50 big box stores around the country in 2013. While the list of stores had not been released a reader shares some scuttlebutt that Columbia Heights’ location in DC USA (14th and Irving St, NW) is on the list.

If accurate, do you think this would be a big loss for the DC USA mall or do you do most of your electronics shopping in Target anyway?

At least DSW is still coming…

Capitol Hemp to Close DC Stores on August 1

By Prince Of Petworth

Published April 10, 2012 at 11:30AM | Updated April 10, 2012 at 11:54AM

Capitol Hemp first opened in Apr. 2008 at 1802 Adams Mill Road, NW in Adams Morgan. They opened their 2nd location in Apr. 2010 at 519 H Street, NW in Chinatown. In Oct. 2011 their stores were raided by MPD.

1802 Adams Mill Road, NW

Yesterday store co-owner Adam Eidinger released a lengthy press release:

“Capitol Hemp, DC’s only source for high quality hemp clothing and accessories, should be celebrating its four-year anniversary since opening its doors on April 20, 2008. Instead, the company, which employs ten people, begins the arduous task of permanently closing down its Adams Morgan (1802 Adams Mill Rd, NW) and Chinatown (519 H St, NW) stores on August 1, 2012.”

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Sorriso Cafe e Gelateria Now Hiring in Woodley Park; Upstairs to Become a Consignment Shop?

By Prince Of Petworth

Published April 9, 2012 at 10:22PM

Back in Nov. 2011 we learned Cafe Sorriso was coming to 2311 Calvert St, NW in the former House of Philly pizza spot in Woodley Park.

“New restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner specializing in homemade gelato, deserts, and coffees. Recorded music. Occupancy load is 49. Sidewalk Cafe has 20 seats.”

Cafe Sorriso is from the same folks who run Sorriso up in Cleveland Park at 3518 Connecticut Ave, NW. Looks like the new Gelateria (ed. note: what an awesome word) getting close to opening:

Cafe Sorriso will be located between the new CVS and Afghan Grill on Calvert just east of Connecticut Ave, NW.

I also heard one more piece of interesting info while I was checking the spot. The upstairs might become a consignment store. Stay tuned.

Walmart Only Opening 1 out 6 Planned Stores in DC in 2013

By Prince Of Petworth

Published April 9, 2012 at 4:30PM

Washington Post reports:

The first Wal-Mart to open in D.C. will likely be at the corner at Georgia and Missouri avenues in Northwest, where the retailer and developer Foulger-Pratt demolished a former Chevrolet dealership and plan to build a stand-alone store that should open by the end of 2013. They expect to break ground this spring.

No other Wal-Mart site has been issued building permits, according to the company. Developer JBG Rosenfeld has applied for building permits to begin a mixed-use apartment-retail complex at 801 New Jersey Ave. NW, where a ground floor Wal-Mart could open in early 2014.

We recently judged the Georgia Ave rendering here.

It looked like progress was being made at the New Jersey Ave, NW location… Do you guys think that hole in the ground is for a different project?

Planned Georgia Ave location in Brightwood. Demolished Curtis Chevrolet

Utopia Closing For 14 Months on U Street; Stem, DC Noodles to Close for at least a Year

By Prince Of Petworth

Published April 9, 2012 at 10:30AM

“Dear PoP,

We stopped by on Friday and it was closed. A former waiter said they had a big party on Thursday before it closed for a long time. Why aren’t the other restaurants closed as well?”

1418 U Street NW

I also passed Utopia at 1418 U St, NW on Sunday. I spoke with the folks at Stem two storefronts down. They said that both Stem and DC Noodles would also be closing soon (he didn’t have an exact date of when) for at least a year while construction of the nearby Louis at 14th development takes place. I’m guessing Coppi’s will also temporarily close at some point. In the meantime Stem is having a clearance sale on all of their inventory.

J.Crew and The Art of SpYn Coming to Penn Quarter

By Prince Of Petworth

Published April 6, 2012 at 4:30PM

950 F Street, NW courtesy of BRAVERY CORPORATION

From a press release:

Douglas Development is excited to announce the additions of upscale retailer J.Crew and premier yoga and spinning studio, The Art of SpYn, to the company’s property at 950 F Street, NW. J.Crew is slated to open in August and The Art of SpYn is scheduled to open this spring.

J.Crew will occupy 3,044 square feet on the ground floor and 5,581 square feet on the lower level for a total of 8,625 square feet in the Atlantic Building, which borders the historic Ford’s Theatre. The Art of SpYn, the city’s first combined indoor cycling and yoga studio, will also occupy two levels of space for a total of 5,272 square feet and will feature two studios and a lifestyle retail boutique. These new tenants will join high-end retailer Anthropologie in the building.

Great additions to Penn Quarter. We previously spoke about The Art of SpYn here.

uBreakiFix Electronics Repair Coming to Cleveland Park

By Prince Of Petworth

Published April 5, 2012 at 4:30PM

Back in Jan. 2011 National Shoe Rebuilders closed underneath Indique at at 3510 Connecticut Ave, NW. I had been really curious to see who would take over the space. Thanks to a reader for sending word of uBreakiFix Electronics Repair coming soon:

“If you need expert help with a broken iPhone, Smartphone or iPad, uBreakiFix is the name to trust in cell phone repair services. With 150 positive customer reviews for our Smartphone and iPhone repair services and accreditation by the BBB (Better Business Bureau), you can rest assured that your electronics will be given the careful service they deserve.”