Retail

Ft. Totten to Get a 7-11 Plus Other Development News

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a reader for sending the above photo and news about Ft. Totten’s imminent arrival of a 7-11. “The address of the building is 5210 3rd Street NE, but the store is actually on Galloway St NE, right across from the Metro Station in the Ft. Totten Station Apartment building.”

And in other Ft. Totten news The Washington Post had a big article today titled, An uptown vision for a ’50s neighborhood. They write:

“The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is driving the development on a 17-acre plot it owns between the Fort Totten Metro station and South Dakota Avenue NE. The project, which would be completed over eight years and has an estimated price tag of $425 million, would give a 21st century makeover, complete with sleek buildings of glass, slate and brick, to a 1950s-era neighborhood filled with three-story brick buildings and mature trees.”

You can read the rest of the story here.

Coming in 2010 – A Crafts Store in Mt. Pleasant/Columbia Heights or Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“So I know there was some definite interest from commenters on your site a while back about an ongoing project to open a craft supply store in the District — specifically in the Mt.P/ Columbia Heights/ Petworth area. The store itself will be a mix of the usual craft supplies and recycled treasures (old maps, keys and buttons — that sort of thing), and additionally we plan to house a teaching space for a wide variety of craft classes, music lessons, etc.

We plan to open a brick-and-mortar space in 2010 (shooting for late spring). Ideally, the shop would be in Mt. Pleasant (perhaps one of the MANY vacant store-fronts?) or Columbia Heights (11th St. area?) or Petworth. The store itself will sell craft supplies and vintage findings (not pre-made crafts), but we would offer various projects during our classes/workshops (i.e. bringing artisans in to teach staining glass or jewelry-making or similar activities). The multi-purpose classroom space would also be available to the community for music lessons, art shows, band practice, etc.

So! In advance of all that, Craft*Monger is holding a craft day on Sunday, Oct. 18 at Proper Topper in Georgetown (3213 P street NW).

At noon (shine only) we’ll have a kids’ workshop in the garden, featuring mask-making, gourd-painting, leaf-stamping, and MORE!

And between 4pm and 6pm (rain or shine), Megan Nicolay, author of Generation T, will lead a T-shirt re-fashioning workshop. Bring an old T, and leave with something new! If it rains, we have tents, and it it’s cold, we’ve got a heater. Bring a t-shirt if you can; scissors, etc. will be provided.

Megan will demonstrate a ton of projects, including making t-shirts into stuffed mobiles, baby bibs, a babydoll dress, a braided mod handbag, a cute wine cozy and a padded laptop sleeve.

You can contact us for more info at [email protected], visit Generation T for a preview, follow us on twitter: @craftmonger, or fan us on facebook (Craft*Monger) to find out about this and future events.”

New Chocolate Shop Opens in Georgetown – J. Chocolatier

By Prince Of Petworth

Over the summer I asked if folks liked the restaurant Chez Mama-san and I quickly learned that they were no longer open. Metrocurean has the scoop announcing that J. Chocolatier has opened up in the spot at 1039 33rd St. NW. For chocolate fans there is great news this Friday:

“Oct. 16 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. for a free tasting featuring samples of the warm clove truffles, fresh pumpkin truffles, fleur de sel caramel and drinking chocolate.”

AM Wine Shoppe Coming to 18th Street in Current Skynear Location

By Prince Of Petworth

Well this sounds awesome. Back in July I spoke with Lynne Skynear about possible changes to her location at 2122 18th Street, NW.

The Wine Shoppe sounds pretty awesome as it is a project from the folks behind Cashion’s Eat Place. The sign says:

“Our vision is to bring a fine wine and gourmet food shoppe to one of the most diverse and authentic neighborhoods in Washington DC.”

Think this will be a good fit for 18th Street, NW?

Note that Skynear is not going away all together but will be featuring their items on the top floors.

Has Anyone Been to the Flea Market Store?

By Prince Of Petworth

It’s located at 1626 Lincoln Road, NE but the address may be a bit decieving. It’s sorta on North Capitol near Quincy. I’ve passed by this spot, on the other side of the street, dozens of times. I don’t know why I’ve never checked it out myself but thought I’d ask if there are any fans out there?

Look What Happened To Visions Movie Theater

By Prince Of Petworth

I thought I had read somewhere that a bar or restaurants was going to move into the old Visions Movie Theater space located at 1927 Florida Ave, NW. Am I imaging that? Anyway, it turns out that the Non Profit AED has moved into the space. From their Web site:

“AED is a nonprofit organization working globally to improve education, health, civil society and economic development–the foundation of thriving societies.

In collaboration with local and national partners, AED fosters sustainable results through practical, comprehensive approaches to social and economic challenges. AED implements more than 250 programs serving people in all 50 U.S. states and more than 150 countries.”

Sounds like a great organization.

Some Salacious Scuttlebutt and Friday Question of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in July I wrote that Habitat was moving into the space next door, formerly Moojoo Ken located at 1512 U Street, NW.

But I had no idea what was going to move into Habitat’s old space at 1510 U Street, NW. A reader provides some salacious scuttlebutt:

“I was just in Habitat, the purse/ bag shop on U Street. It recently moved downstairs into Moojoo Ken’s old spot. I asked someone working there what was moving into their old spot and he said it would be a sex shop. He seemed to be an honest man, who struggled to find the appropriate English words to describe the shop to me.

While I often look at vacant spots on U Street and brainstorm what this area needs, sex shop has never been the top of my list. Guess I am a bit naive.”

Of course this is only scuttlebutt but I’m dying to hear what you guys think. So for the FQoTD – do you think a sex shop will be a good fit for U Street? Also, do you think the U Street neighborhood association (if there is one) will support or at least not fight a sex shop on U Street?

View More Stories