Retail - PoPville

Dear PoPville – Is a Fiat Dealership Coming to Logan Circle?

Published October 19, 2011 at 10:30AM

“Dear PoPville,

I was riding my bike to work today and noticed a sign for Fiat of Alexandria in the old Mar de Plata space on 14th street south of P St. Any idea if we’re getting an outpost of the dealership? That would be kind of cool. Those are some seriously small cars, but I guess they’re perfect for city living.”

Mar de Plata closed their location at 1410 14th Street, NW back in May ’09. This space has been vacant since. Unfortunately a Fiat dealership is not coming to the space. I spoke to the number advertised on the Fiat banner and it turns out Mr. Lee’s family owns the building. He flirted with the idea of opening a Fiat marketing office in the space but since he would not be permitted to offer test drives it is not likely going to happen. The sign in the window is simply an advertisement for the Alexandria location, where he is a dealer.

Though no prospective tenants are in negotiations, I gotta think this prime location won’t sit vacant for too many more years.

Verizon Wireless Moving into Former Restaurant Space at 1742 L St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 17, 2011 at 4:30PM

I’m totally blanking on the name of the restaurant – anyone remember what it was called? It’s on L St, NW just west of Connecticut Ave. There’s now a plaque there:

At any rate – and I never really understand why stores do this – Verizon is moving from it’s current location to right next door. They expect to make the move in November.

Dear PoPville – Pulp has been saved on 14th Street!

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 17, 2011 at 11:30AM

“Dear PoPville,

Today (Sunday, 16 October) some friends and I went into PULP and saw this sign on the the front door, offering great news:

“It’s a ‘Miracle on 14th Street’! Thank you for all your good energy! We’re staying open under new local ownership. Stay tuned for details!”

We talked to a staffer who said a local private investor came through at the last minute — just Saturday morning!– and bought the shop which saved it from closing.

Hooray! This is one of the best stocked independent shops in the city with friendly and helpful staff and a pioneer of the renaissance of 14th Street. (Just have a look at the before-and-after photo of the shop’s site in the photo behind the counter.)”

Pulp is located on 14th St just north of S St at 1803 14th Street NW. Thanks to all who sent emails about this.

Friday Question of the Day – Urban Outfitters a Good Fit for U Street?

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 13, 2011 at 10:10PM

Photo by PoPville flickr user mediaslave

I’m hearing rumors that Urban Outfitters is considering opening up a store in the U Street neighborhood. They currently have locations in Georgetown and Penn Quarter. So this week’s Friday Question of the Day is a simple one: Do you think Urban Outfitters would be a good fit for the U Street neighborhood? Personally I think they’d do very well on U Street.

Stitch DC Moves from Barracks Row to Tenleytown

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 12, 2011 at 4:30PM

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”

Athropologie Opens in Penn Quarter Today

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 7, 2011 at 11:00AM

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 Closing at 1911 9th Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 7, 2011 at 10:30AM

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.

Former Irvine Art Gallery to Become a Design Center at 1412 14th St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 6, 2011 at 4:30PM

The Irvine Gallery was located at 1412 14th Street, NW (just south of P St.) I peeked my head into the space last weekend and one of the workers said the space was going to become a design center. I imagine that’s like interior design? Does anyone know what exactly is a design center?

New Designer women’s Clothes Coming to 2818 Georgia Ave NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Published October 4, 2011 at 4:30PM

“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”

View Larger Map

#Georgia Ave

Pulp Closing at 14th and S St, NW in November

By Prince Of Petworth

Published September 28, 2011 at 4:30PM | Updated March 4, 2019 at 9:23AM

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.