Stitch DC was formerly located at 731 8th Street SE in Barracks Row. They’re now located across from the Tenleytown metro. From their Web site:

“Stitch DC offers the most unique knitting, crochet, and quilting classes in the Washington, DC area. Take classes in our new Tenley Town location. Other classes can be taken at inspiring locations around town.

Learn to knit, crochet, purl, make your first scarf, socks, shawl, lace, blanket, hat and so much more with Stitch DC experts.

located just across the street from the Tenley Town Metro (Red Line)

4000 Albemarle Street NW, Suite 409/410”


Back in Oct. ’10 we learned that an Anthropologie was coming to 950 F St, NW in Penn Quarter. They had a preview party last night and are open to the public today. Some people won’t care too much but some people will be very very happy. So I am happy for them. I think this is a great score for Penn Quarter.

Photos of the inside after the jump. (more…)


Toucan Boutique opened up back in March ’10 at 1911 9th St, NW (just south of U St.) in the former Lettie Gooch space (now located at 1517 U Street, NW). I was sad to see for lease signs in the window yesterday. I spoke to the owner who said the space will still be open for a few more weeks and they’ll continue to do trunk shows. Down the road it is possible they may open another brick and mortar store. I think this is a big loss for 9th St, NW.


“Dear PoPville,

This place is at the corner of Georgia and Gresham NW. I’ll try to summarize an email from the owner:

She’s selling designer womens clothes that haven’t moved from her boutique up in Potomac, MD priced at / below cost. Also, she bought the building and plans to rent out the second floor as a 1BR apartment.

It looks like this is her store in MD”


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1800 block of 14th St, NW in 2008

“Dear PoPville,

The cashier at Pulp informed me last weekend that they were closing the store by Thanksgiving. He said that they had tried to find a buyer but they were not able to.

If this is true it would be yet another store closing on 14th St. I think that unless you have a liquor license (or sell overpriced furniture), you won’t be able to afford the rent.”

Most recently we we spoke about 1409 Playbill Cafe closing at the end of the month.

Pulp is located on 14th St just north of S St at 1803 14th Street NW. Just reading ‘meet the staff’ will give a good indication of how unique this place was.

At the end of the day I also think it is important to take a step back and see that today, there is still a pretty unique mix of retail on the 14th St strip with newly added Current Boutique as well as other clothing stores like Universal Gear, Redeem, Rue 14 and others plus all the diverse retail on nearby U Street. Though I do admit this is only for today and clearly this is a decent indication of what the strip may look like tomorrow.


A reader writes: “Look what opened on GA Ave in near LGL… Sneaker store!”

CityBeats just opened up on Saturday at 3551 Georgia Ave, NW (at the corner of Georgia and Otis St, NW.)  I stopped in on Thursday and the owner was super nice.  Like the reader who sent in the tip – I was genuinely excited about this place.  So given the recent talks we’ve had on liquor license moratoriums (though I’m not necessarily saying they are a good idea) and given the excitement many had when we learned about a new hardware store coming soon – for the Friday Question of the Day – I’m curious what other non bar/restaurant retail you’d like to see in your neighborhoods?



4722 14th St, NW

Back in July ’11 we learned that Ruff N Ready would be closing at 1910 14th St, NW to make way for a Taylor’s sandwich shop. We speculated about where a new location would be successful for a FQotD. A lot of neighborhoods were mentioned. Since then, I’ve been getting a few tips about a new 16th Street Heights location and I’m now happy to share the great news confirmed by a reader:

“Dear PoP,

So there I was, window shopping at Miss Pixie’s, when I found this delightful announcement:

NEWS FLASH!! RUFF & READY
WILL OPEN SOON (DATE TO BE
ANNOUNCED) @ 4722 14TH ST.NW
@ 16TH STREETS HEIGHTS!

How exciting is that? VERY, in my book.”


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I’m gonna concur – this is very good news.

They already give you a taste of what’s to come:

4722 14th St, NW is located in the former Esther’s Treasures space (which closed back in Sept. ’10) across the street from the Bus Barn and a few doors up from Highlands Cafe:



Rendering for Caprice to be located at 3460 14th St, NW

Back in Aug. ’10 we first learned of plans for a :

“French coffee shop and bakery, with authentic French pastries and several varieties of bread– including real baguettes!– baked on site.”

It’s been a long year of anticipation but I am overjoyed to say that a lease has been signed and construction has begun on Caprice, a new French Bakery coming to the Allegro retail space at 3460 14th St, NW.

I sat down with the owners on Tuesday afternoon and have been smiling ever since. It is an insane coincidence that I’ve just returned from Paris so every time they explained a pastry or a baguette, I could actually taste what they were talking about.

So let me share some details first:

Construction is slated to be completed around the end of November.

There will be a small indoor sitting area for about 10-12 people and later in the Spring there will likely be a small outdoor patio area.

The Chef Baker lived in France for 20 years.

The bakery is locally owned by a family that lives 2 blocks away.

While there will be a variety of breads including real baguettes baked daily on site, the head Chef Baker also has a passion for pastries so expect to see Pain au Chocolate, Croissants, Macarrons, Petits Choux and more. In the future they will also offer soups and sandwiches. Think cheese and butter on a baguette. Ham on a baguette…

The hours will be 7am – 7pm though they could be extended if there is enough demand (see questions below.)

You can see from the photo about that there are actually two big spaces. They are both roughly 900 square feet with one being the public area and the other being the baking area.

So this leads me to a few questions that owners had for you guys: You can see that the baking area can be visible from the street so if you wanted you could actually watch the baking process – is that something you’d be interested in? Would you like to be able to watch the kitchen/baking area from the street.

Another question they had was about coffee – is there a particular brand you’d like to see served? Illy? Counter Culture? Something else?

Finally, how do you like the hours of 7am – 7pm? Are they good or would you prefer earlier? Later?

Stay tuned for more info/details as we get closer to the opening date.


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