Retail

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…)

Neat Neighborhood Find: Millennium Decorative Arts

By Prince Of Petworth

I’m going to be honest with you all. This is my favorite store on U Street. Milliennium located at 1528 U Street is the greatest of the used furniture stores in town for a reasonable price. I got a wicked cool coffee table here a couple of years ago. So now I’m happy to share it with you. It is very unassuming and you’ve probably walked by it dozens of times. It is a basement store so that is easy to do. But the stuff they have, for the price they offer, is tops. I had the chance to talk with one of the owners, Glynn Romero, who told me that the store has been open since 1992. Glynn and his partner have owned the shop for about two and a half years. If you need anything super cool for your home I highly recommend you check it out. Prices range from $5 to $1000 depending upon what you’re looking for. I think I paid like $200 for the sickest coffee table you’ll ever see. Lots of cool photos of their wares after the jump.
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Neat Neighborhood Find: Caramel

By Prince Of Petworth

I know I’ve been finding a lot on U Street, but man, there are a lot of cool hidden places on U Street, so what I can say. At anyrate this most recent one, Caramel, is located at 1603 U Street right across the street from Stetsons and Local 16. It is very unassuming from the outside but inside there is quite a deep store with mens and womens clothing and accessories and even photographs. I spoke with owner, Sarah Watkins, who told me the that shop has now been open for almost two years. Watkins designers are both local and from LA, NY, Canada and Italy. Ed note: Further proof that the damn Canadians are taking over the world. Her store features casual pieces as well as those that “you can wear out at night”. Watkins mentioned that she is beginning to stock more pieces that are from eco friendly lines. Prices vary widely from t-shirts at around $25 to dresses at $475 and everything in between. Lots more photos of the cool interior after the jump. (more…)

Neat Neighborhood Find: El West

By Prince Of Petworth

The following post was written by our intern in Mt. Pleasant – Tina.

If you live in Mount Pleasant, you probably know of El West. Maybe you have walked past it on your way to Tonic, maybe you have noticed the ample posteriors of the mannequins in the window, maybe you were fortunate enough to catch their “racy” Valentines Day window display in which a male mannequin was holding pair of lacy panties (presumably belonging to one of those mannequin ladies), or maybe you’ve gone there in search of jeans, cowboy boots, belt buckles, leather goods, men’s every day clothes, or some women’s club attire – all of which El West offers in bountiful supply

DEKKA Grand Opening

By Prince Of Petworth

I stopped by DEKKA located at 1338 U Street on the second floor this past Saturday. The place was smashed so I, unfortunately, didn’t get to speak with the owner but from their Web site they describe themselves as “a store in the heart of U” featuring fashion, art, and music from primarily local talent. It is the first and only such Co-Op in DC.” Pretty cool. Unfortunately the place was so crowded I was unable to get a good look at the offerings. However the place was also filled with beautiful models, so that was nice. I’ll go back when it is less crowded to do a proper profile. In the meantime check out some photos of art, the crowd and some more beautiful models after the jump.  Although now that I think about it there  seems to be something forced , you know not genuine, about paying models to attend your opening.  What are your thoughts on models who are paid to attend  grand openings? (more…)

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