Retail

Ah, So Here’s Where Cork & Fork Will Be

By Prince Of Petworth

Metrocurean wrote about this spot back in July but I finally walked by the location and noticed the alcohol permit.

I was wondering what was going to happen at this prime location at the corner of 14th and Church. According to Cork & Fork’s Web site:

“Cork & Fork is a place for wine and food lovers. Customers can attend monthly wine seminars as well as Wine 101 classes where they can develop their enjoyment of wine and food. The flagship store in Gainesville, VA opened in 2005 and was the first of its kind in the fast developing Western part of Prince William County where Gainesville has become known as the “Gateway to Virginia Wine Country” because of its proximity to a number of wineries in the Northern Virginia area. Besides carrying select Virginia wines, Cork & Fork stocks some of the finest wines, beers, and cheeses from around the world not available at your local grocery store.”

Sounds awesome. Thought, as others have noted, it is crazy that there will be Cork wine bar, Cork’s new market (same owners) and now Cork & Fork (different owners) all within a few blocks of each other on 14th Street.

2204 14th Street, NW To Become A Bike Rental Shop

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in March, the scuttlebutt for this location included a Dunkin Donuts or sushi restaurant. I spoke with a worker who said the spot will become a bike rental shop opening late this week or next week. I have to admit I’m a little surprised. Given the city’s smartbike program renting bikes I’d think that’d be a tough business to compete against. (Particularly because there is a smartbike rack a few streets down at 14th and U.)

Do you think a bike rental shop in this location will thrive?

Coming and Going – Cleveland Park Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in April I wrote about my continued love of Cleveland Park despite their retail woes. In March we learned it was going to get some of its groove back. But we were really ahead of the curve when we first discussed their retails woes last August.

Well, there are still some ups and downs in Cleveland Park. The 7-11 at Connecticut Ave and Porter has closed. But don’t lose all hope, a Walgreen’s is coming next door…

Coming and Going – Signs Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader writes:

“I noticed a bunch of signs for new businesses on 14th street today. Masa 14 and the new Cork market now have “coming soon’ signs.

In sadder news, Shoefly on U appears to have reduced its hours to only be open on weekdays. Hope that’s enough to keep them there.”

And I thought I’d add another from 14th St.:

And in “Going” news it looks like Score the educational center has closed in Columbia Heights (in the plaza where the new fountain is going near Julia’s Empanadas).

Arrived and Going

By Prince Of Petworth

The new Cricket store at the corner of 14th and U has opened. The guy in the photo out front was awesome. As I was setting up the photo he hustled out of the store because he wanted to get in the photo. He put a huge smile on my face.

And in less pleasant news.

Back in January we looked at the promising Zizi Boutique. Folks were happy that a cool non bar option had opened on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. Sadly, it was short lived as the store is now closed.

Dear PoP – Support Your Local Hardware Stores

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP

You’ve posted on local hardware stores in general and Pfeiffer’s Hardware in Mt Pleasant in particular. So I thought you might be interested in this below (from the Mt Pleasant Forum).

I shop there all the time – a world apart from the hell that is Home Depot. I hope others will show their support and spend their money at Pfeiffers (and other local businesses).

Dear Mt. Pleasant Friends and Neighbors,

Times are tight for all of us, and I wanted to let you know how Pfeiffer’s is coping.

First, we are doing everything we can to give you good reason to buy from us. We have been doing that since we opened, but we have redoubled our efforts of late. Our new manager, William Hester, has been a phenomenal help and has so much more experience managing people and stuff than I ever had. Please feel free to stop by and introduce yourself at your leisure.

Our new assistant manager, Kyla Dickson, who was promoted from clerk, has also been tremendously helpful with her instinctive ability to get things done and to manage inventory. And then there are the usual suspects: John, Josh, Richard, Roberto, Rodney and Wing. All are there to help you find what you need, or to give you their opinion on the health care debate. Our previous manager Megan Crowley, left at the end of June to pursue her dream of opening her antique tavern in West Virginia.

I am also writing to ask for your continued support. The economy is hurting most of us, I’m sure, but the fact is, without an increase in sales, our store may become yet another empty storefront on Mt. Pleasant Street. No one wants that. So, if you need a widget or a doohickey, please remember us and the value of convenience and connection and helpfulness and friendliness that we bring to your shopping at our store.

Many other businesses on Mt. Pleasant Street are struggling. If you don’t want to see them close their doors, please remember to shop locally when you can.

Thank you for your support in the past and whatever support you can afford in the future.

I will be at the store this Sunday through Wednesday and will be available for conversation at Marx Cafe in the evenings from at least 4-6pm Sunday through Tuesday. If any of you would like to chat about the store, our current situation, suggestions, possible contractors to woo, or just to chat about all things Mount Pleasant or the Pfeiffer clan, please stop by. If you would rather meet one on one, please email me at [email address removed – log in to view].

In my next posting, I will give you an update on the possible sale of the store, some new policies, our new items, and the restructuring of our rental department.

Hugs and Hardware,

Old Man Pfeiffer”

Tina visited this great hardware store back in June of 2008. And last March I wondered if local hardware stores are doomed? It saddens me to hear about Pfeiffer’s tough times. They truly are a gem in Mt. Pleasant.

I Don’t Really Get This Article. But Having Read it, I Now Feel Nauseous

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by M.V. Jantzen

In the Post today there is a story titled, “The Target Of Their Ambivalence – Suburban-Retail Icon Seduces Hipsters Of Columbia Heights”. It starts:

“For the hipsters, post-hipsters or quasi-hipsters who moved into Columbia Heights several years ago for the grit and the cheap rent and the proximity to the Wonderland Ballroom (the hipster, post-hipster or quasi-hipster bar that sponsors local music and nights like “Sundress Fest”), life can be divided into two discrete phases: Before Target. After Target.”

Please read the rest of the article here. Let me know what you think. My reaction is a mixture of nausea, sadness and a slight smile. But I really think sometimes a Target is just a Target…

More Coming to 1400 Block of Church Street, NW – Immortal Beloved Hair Salon

By Prince Of Petworth

What can I say? It’s Church Street Monday here at PoP. The space at 1457 Church Street, NW which used to house Dragonfly is becoming a hair salon. I peeked in the window and it looked like some major work had been completed. I stopped in next door to NIMBUS hair salon to see if they knew what was going in. NIMBUS’ owner, Yusuf Baptiste, told me that Immortal Beloved Hair Salon will be taking over the space. Interestingly, I asked him if he was concerned that another hair salon was coming in right next door to him. On the contrary, he said, the idea of more folks on the street will bring more commerce to the whole block. (And of course we learned that CrossFit is going in a couple a storefronts down.) Mr. Baptiste’s NIMBUS salon has been on Church Street for four and a half years.

Coming and Moving – Wired and Apartment Zero

By Prince Of Petworth

A new tavern called “Wired” is coming to 1015 1/2 7th Street, NW. The liquor application says, “New tavern offering snacks such as chips and cheese, live jazz music, DJ, karaoke and dancing. Occupancy load is 350”. Sounds pretty interesting.

And a bit further south at 406 7th Street, NW, Apartment Zero furniture store is moving. Their Web site says:

“Going forward, Apartment Zero will focus its resources on residential and commercial interior design, plus a dedicated office for contract sales to the trade (architects and interior designers). Apartment Zero will also be launching its e-commerce site offering a much larger and more exclusive range of products to a national audience in addition to the Washington DC area.

It has been our pleasure to serve you! We look forward to expanding our relationship with you now and in the future …. and who knows, perhaps you’ll see another retail concept pop up very soon.”

Dear PoP – Can Anyone Offer Advice on Where To Open Up a Vintage Furniture Shop?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I am the individual who was looking into leasing the space next to CH Coffee in hopes of opening a vintage furniture store that would sell primarily mid-century & Danish modern furniture. Unfortunately I was about a month late in applying as the owners were already in serious negotiations with the current tenant who is applying for the alcohol license. The space is only 600 sq feet, so how they would ever fit 75 people — I don’t know. Regardless, their space limitations is not why I am writing.

I am a resident of CH & have been selling this furniture as a side hobby for some time now. However, with having a ‘regular’ FT job & already devoting almost all of my weekends to this side endeavor, I have not had much time to look for alternative locations. As a resident of CH, I am very much hoping to open this business within our neighborhood; and also offer some type of store discount to local residents.

I am seeking your assistance in helping me find an alternative location for this business. It appears that CH has a lot of retail space available, but unfortunately for a large portion of these closed storefronts, it is difficult to track down the appropriate individual(s) to inquire about leasing the space. At the same time, leasing space in a prime location on 14th street is not feasible. Nor is that the type of store/space I am desiring.

After reading some of the comments on your web site, I’m wondering how I would also go about contacting some the respondents (if they were open to this) for their help in this matter. I say this because “New2CH” and “Tim” seem to have a devoted interest in the CH community, in addition to a lot of knowledge on locations and/or the subject. These are two people who recently posted comments that sparked my attention.”

Anyone have any advice and/or suggestions?

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