Retail

Neat Neighborhood Find: Good Wood

By Prince Of Petworth

Good Wood, American Furniture & Decorative Arts is located at 1428 U Street and without a doubt is the bomb as the kids like to say. The store has been around for 15 years was purchased by its current owners, Daniel and Anna Kahoe, five years ago. I had the opportunity to chat with Anna. It was very interesting to hear Anna explain the difference between the patrons of today versus the patrons of 15 years ago. Anna explained that 15 years ago folks were buying houses and completely renovating them so they were looking for mantles and period pieces to restore their homes. Today folks are looking for decorative things for their homes and they tend to have much more eclectic tastes. Anna points out that this is not a vintage store rather it focuses on 19th century American furniture. I was surprised to learn that the store is dog friendly so they also have that going for them. The store has pieces for folks just starting out as well as pieces for those with a bit more discretionary income. Anna told me that they are able to keep their prices reasonable because they often buy entire estates and are able to get a deal on the bulk purchase. Prices vary widely from a $28 footstool to a $300-$900 chest of drawers. What this simple observer can say is that the store is exquisite. It has a bit of everything. From dressers, to bookshelves, to stained glass, to desks, to a bust of Beethoven. So if you like furniture and decorative arts of the old school variety you are going to love this store. The store is open Wed. 11-7pm, Thurs. 5-9pm, Fri/Sat 11-7pm and Sun. 11-5pm. Also on the third Thursday of every month they have wine and cheese. Dog friendly and wine and cheese, yeah. Check out lots of photos after the jump. (more…)

Ellwood Thompson’s Grocery Store May Still Open in DCUSA Complex in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

The New Columbia Heights blog is reporting that Ellwood Thompson’s grocery store is still trying to get a lease in the DC USA Complex. The blog says that the store “carries a lot of organic and free-range products, buys a lot of its meat and produce from local farmers, and has a lot of standards for their products.”

I strongly support organic and free range products. Having said that I just can’t get excited about this prospect. I’m perfectly happy with the Giant right across the street. I’d be stoked for something new like when we heard about the REI or maybe a Borders books store but I just can’t get too excited about a grocery store opening up right across the street from a new grocery store. Is it just me or am I missing something? Is there great excitement about the possibility of another grocery store in Columbia Heights?

Ed. note: Despite the many recent posts on grocery stores, I swear I am not obsessed by them. I am, however, obsessed with grocery carts but that’s a whole other post.

Sweet City Sign

By Prince Of Petworth

Now I know this one wasn’t too expensive. But I’m also fairly certain that a lot of love was poured into this sign. While the paint is clearly dry, you can tell that the pride is still dripping wet.

Neat Neighborhood Find: Home Rule

By Prince Of Petworth

Located at 1807 14th Street just north of T Street, Home Rule has been open since 1999. If you’re looking for home goods and don’t feel like going to the mall you’ll find lots of great options here. They’ve got tons of stuff for the kitchen and bathroom. They claim to have best collection of shower curtains in town. The shop is small but they use the space efficiently and the staff are extremely helpful. Prices range from a dollar to $250 with the average sales price being $32. Any fans of Home Rule out there? Check out some pictures of the interior after the jump. (more…)

Some Good Scuttlebutt For Ya

By Prince Of Petworth

Some potentially good, some potentially not so good.

Disclaimer: The following is scuttlebutt, rumor, things I’ve heard. Take it with a grain of salt. Although I have a 95% success rate with these rumors turning out to be true, nevertheless there is always a possibility the following could fall in the 5% false category.

The last retail space in the strip of new retail on Irving Street will be… A Mocha Hut! So now Columbia Heights will officially be a coffee lover’s haven. You’ve got Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Mayorga, Columbia Heights Coffee and now Mocha Hut. So what do you think – a good addition?

Now for the not so good – I’m hearing that the new Yes! Organic Market that is coming to Georgia Ave. is facing some difficulties. What are the difficulties? Well, apparently there is a moratorium on liquor licenses and they may not be able to get one. This would be very bad for their business. And for us. So start whatever grassroots action you can to make sure that the Yes! Organic Market gets a liquor license. Of course I have no idea how that happens. So do you think the Yes! Organic Market should be allowed to have a liquor license?

Neat Neighborhood Find: Dekka

By Prince Of Petworth

When I wrote about Dekka’s grand opening a few weeks ago it was too crowded to check out the store but I promised to return. And this past Saturday, I was able to check out all the goods and speak with two members of the designer’s collective. The idea behind Dekka, located at 1338 U Street, is very cool. It features a collective of designers who pay a “small reasonable fee” to display their goods. I spoke with two of the members, Marilani Huling (pictured above) and Sheri Green. Green and Huling explained to me that the store has 15 designers. The 15 designers include 2 handbag designers, 2 Jewelry designers (of which Huling is one), 7 clothing designers, 1 cosmetics (Green) and 3 artists. And the coolest part is that all the designers are local. So those who are interested in supporting local designers, check ’em out! More photos after the jump. (more…)

Neat Neighborhood Find: Timothy Paul Bedding & Home

By Prince Of Petworth

Timothy Paul Bedding & Home, located at 1529A 14th Street, NW is one of the cool new stores to open up on 14th Street. It is located right next door to the newly opened Universal clothing store, and a few doors down from the newly opened ACKC chocolate shop. I briefly chatted with owner Timothy Paul who explained that he has another handmade rug and textile shop a few blocks away and folks were always asking him about the possibility of purchasing bedding, and thus the new store was born. As the name suggests the store features primarily bedding and home decor items. Some of the companies stocked include John Robshaw from New York, Matteo, an organic natural line from Los Angeles and many others. It is nice to see another independent store emerge on what is becoming one of the coolest streets in the city. Store hours are Tues. – Wed. 11-6, Thurs. – Sat. 11- 8, and Sun. 12-4. Check out some more photos after the jump. (more…)

Moo Cows

By Prince Of Petworth

Any store that has a cow welcoming me upon entry is a cool store in my book. Free PoP T-shirt to the first one who gets the name of the store and neighborhood in which it’s located. After that’s been established, let me know if you dig the store?

Neat Neighborhood Find: Som Records

By Prince Of Petworth

You can easily walk by this small basement store at 1843 14th Street just south of T Street. Now, I’m not a huge record fan but you have to dig the style of this store. And wasn’t it just national record store week or something like that? Actually, now may be a good time to explain to me the appeal of purchasing records. Is it because the quality is somehow more authentic? Anyway, this store is super fresh and if you like the vinyl you ought to check it out.

Holy Cow: Miss Pixie’s Moves to 14th and R

By Prince Of Petworth


14th and R Street, NW

The super cool Pixie’s vintage furniture and everything else store moves to the 14th Street corridor! This is phenomenal news. Thanks to Amanda from Metrocurean for giving me the heads up. I, literally, ran in the pouring rain to the new location today and I was absolutely amazed. The store is huge. Some of you long time Washingtonians may remember the shop on Adams Mill Road (or even longer timers may remember the Dupont Circle location). But most of you have probably walked by it’s most recent former location at 2473 18th Street. You can see from the photo the new location is located in the old Powell Auto Parts store that has been vacant for quite a while now, so it is fantastic to see such a cool store like Pixie’s opening up there. (It is located right next to the functioning AYT autobody shop, you know the one with the cool mural.) So I briefly chatted with owner, Pixie Windsor, who explained the details behind the move.

Pixie explained that her partner is Jeff Dawson of Buffalo Billiards, Atomic Billiards, and all the other Billiards spots in DC. Or as Pixie describes him “the Joe Englert of the DC Billiards scene”. Anyway, Jeff found this space on 14th Street and immediately recognized the “good bones”. Now if you thought it couldn’t get any cooler than Pixie’s moving to this location – hold onto your hat. Ed. note: I have always wanted to use the expression ‘hold onto your hat’ this is a great day.

So what’s even better? Well, Jeff would like to eventually open up a small bar and eatery in the space. I should say that the space is huge so I could easily see this working. Right now he is working out the details with the city. Right on, I say.

Back to Pixie’s. In addition to the much bigger square footage, they chose the location because of 14th Street’s current designation as a “hot retail spot”. Pixie described the 18th Street location in Adams Morgan as “bar central” and not exactly “retail friendly.” She also noted that the current location has much better window exposure. Pixie describes the store as “fun and functional”. The price range varies widely from 25 cents to $1200 and everything in between. I saw lots of options in the $45 range. In addition to furniture and home furnishings, Pixie said that, the store also features lots of good original artwork. It is quite an eclectic mix of goods that you will certainly enjoy perusing. For the next couple of weeks the store will be open on Sat. and Sun. from 12-7pm and starting in May, it will also be open Thurs. from 5-9pm and on Fri. also from 12-7pm. Lots of photos of the interior after the jump. (more…)

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