Retail

New Shoe/Sneaker Store Opens on Georgia Avenue – FQotD: What Other Non Restaurant/Bar Retail Would You Like to See in Your Neighborhoods?

By Prince Of Petworth

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?

Ruff N Ready Furnishings to Re-Open in 16th Street Heights!

By Prince Of Petworth


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:

New French Bakery, Caprice, Coming to Columbia Heights!

By Prince Of Petworth


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.

New Vintage Store, Joint Custody, Opens in Adams Morgan

By Prince Of Petworth

Joint Custody opened up at 2337 18th St, NW below Pharmacy Bar in Adams Morgan on Sunday. They specialize in:

Vintage clothing (30s-80s)
Music: records, instruments, ephemera
Vintage audio/electronics
Auto and motorcycle accessories
Toys
Furniture
Militaria
Housewares
Vintage Items Of Interest
The strange and freaky

Their hours are currently:

Monday-Closed (most likely we will be there working and be open so stop by if you see the sign out)
Tuesday-Closed (most likely we will be there working and be open so stop by if you see the sign out)
Wednesday- 12 to 11
Thursday- 4 to 11
Friday- 4 to 11 (Good chance we’ll be in earlier)
Saturday- 12 to 11
Sunday- 12 to 11

Though hours are likely to expand.

I think I may have found a new source for Ridiculously Awesome Album Cover of the Week:

Indigo Frenzy Clothing Boutique Opens at 1412 Pennsylvania SE

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I just wanted to fill you in on a new boutique at 1412 Pennsylvania SE that quietly opened last Monday in the former ‘Shooters’ location. (Coincidentally two doors down from the gelato shop you recently wrote about coming to the corner of Potomac & Pennsylvania.) Its called Indigo Frenzy, specializing in “apparel for junior, missy, plus, children and accessories.” I visited last week, and was greeted warmly and enthusiastically by owner Jennifer Baker.

The shop looks great, and has a sort of clean quiet modern vibe to it, with a surprisingly great selection for the size of the shop. She has everything from funkier ‘going-out’ clothing to business and casual wear, along with a great selection of accessories, all at fantastic prices and excellent customer service. (I must admit I didn’t get out without buying a few things myself!) Indigo Frenzy is a welcome addition to this end of Pennsylvania, and has certainly made at least one loyal customer!”

Annie’s Ace Hardware Coming to 1240 Upshur Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo courtesy of Annie’s Hardware

Thanks to all who wrote about the Park View blog’s big news in this morning’s rant or revel post. Annie was kind enough to share some photos and her press release:

“Ace Hardware is coming to Petworth! Work has begun to open Annie’s Ace Hardware at 1240 Upshur St., NW.

Scheduled to open its doors in November, the store will bring its helpful customer service and quality home improvement products to area homeowners and DIYers in the rapidly developing neighborhood of Petworth in Northwest Washington, DC. Annie’s Ace Hardware will provide solutions to everyday home improvement needs through an extensive selection of products in categories including paint and lawn and garden. In addition, the on- staff “helpful hardware folks” will ease the shopping experience by offering one-on-one expert advice and
assistance.

This is the first Ace store opened by owner Anne Stom. The store will span 7,000 square-feet and stock 15,000 products and have access to more than 80,000 products from the Ace warehouse. Stom, a longtime Washington, DC, resident, has lived near the Petworth neighborhood for six years. “I am very excited to be part of the ongoing commercial development of this part of the District,” she said. “Our vision for Annie’s Ace Hardware includes being a strong supporter of our community.”

The new store will be near the newly renovated Petworth branch of the D.C. Public Library as well as the Yes! Natural Food store on Georgia Avenue. Annie’s Ace Hardware will be a half-mile from the Georgia Avenue/Petworth Metro on the Green and Yellow lines, and near the 60, 62, 63, 70, 71, and 79 Metrobus lines. Capital Bikeshare has also recently announced plans for a Bikeshare station at Georgia Avenue and Upshur Street, scheduled for installation this fall. Stom said there will also be two Zipcar spaces available at the store and bicycle racks.

“This isn’t a suburban store,” Stom said. “That means our model needs to be different in terms of transportation options, as well as our product mix.” For example, she explained, lawn equipment will be geared toward the smaller yards of the nearby row houses. “We will also look at home renovation products that are appropriate for houses built in the early 20th century.”

Annie’s Ace Hardware will carry the Benjamin Moore paint line, Craftsman tools, and will have a lawn and garden section. “We’ll have all the basic hardware products that people expect from an Ace hardware store, but we’ll also be revising and updating our merchandise as we get feedback from customers,” Stom said. The property, the former Rainbow Auto Body Shop, is being renovated to house Annie’s Ace Hardware. “We anticipate installing shelving and stocking products starting in October, and opening in early November.”

If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be taking the rest of the afternoon off to weep with joy.


Photo courtesy of Annie’s Hardware


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Metro Mutts Opening 2nd Location on Barracks Row

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

Metro Mutts announced it is opening a new location at 407 8th Street, SE. The store will open the week of October 1st, and will be the company’s second location, after its flagship store at 508 H Street, NE.

Metro Mutts will be moving into the space of an existing pet store, Pawticulars. “When we were first approached by Pawticulars about moving into their space, we saw it as a great opportunity to grow our business and take advantage of the commercial activity on Barracks Row,” said co‐owner Lee Hartshorn. He continued, “Our two stores have had a very cooperative relationship since Metro Mutts first opened in 2009, so this seemed like a very natural progression for us both.” Pawticulars owner Jennifer Zatkowski echoed Hartshorn’s sentiments: “After opening the store eight years ago, I found it difficult to devote my time to both the store and my family. I am pleased and excited that Metro Mutts is moving into the space and am confident they will provide local customers the same attention and care they’ve come to expect.”

Miss Pixies Moving From Logan Circle in 2012!?!?!

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in April ’08 Miss Pixies moved into the old Powell’s Auto Parts Shop at 14th and R St, NW. In a Washington Examiner article lamenting the closing of Ruff n Ready up the street at 14th and T St, NW, a troubling tidbit is buried at the end of the article:

Pixie Windsor, who has run Miss Pixie’s furniture store down the street for almost four years, is preparing to move. Her lease runs out in March, and the rent will rise. “We come in and make a place cool and popular,” she says, “then they kick us out. That’s the way it works.”

Playseum Opens on Barracks Row

By Prince Of Petworth

The Playseum is located at 545 8th St, SE. Their Web site says:

“The Be with Me Playseum is a great place for the whole family whatever the age. The admission is $6.00 per person. If your second or third child is under 10 months they are free.

We are a children’s used bookstore in the design of a city with hands-on fun bringing family and community together under one roof. This is place where parent and child come in feeling good and leave feeling great!

Our vision: To help kids create and parents relate
Our mission: To come in and play and help children far away

The Playseum currently supports 40 children who have been taken off the streets in Northern India and placed in loving adoptive native homes. and now are DC location is a partner with GTLS a non profit Organization bringing health and clean water to the Hammar Village in Ethiopia.

There is never a dull moment here!
We offer story times Monday-Friday at 11am, Saturdays at 11am, 2pm and 4pm and on Sundays at 2pm & 4pm. Want more? Stay for our childrens singer, John Henry on Monday’s in Bethesda and Wednesdays in DC after story time!

Besides buying your favorite children’s book or the latest kid’s cookbook; purchase playseum money to do some of our “above and beyonds” and enjoy more interactive fun with your child! You can: create something new, paint a ceramic, make your own chapstick, have your nails painted, make homemade pasta (DC location only), toothpaste (Bethesda location only) a strawberry smoothie or decorate a cupcake with all the fixings.
The Playseum is now open Monday – Saturday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm in Washington DC!”

Looks like this could be a good option for activities to do with a 3 and a half year old.

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