WBJ’s Michael Neibauer shares the good word:
“The Giant, at 41,200 square feet, will consume most of the space set aside for retail on the site. There will also be a 1,500 retail bay on the east end. Silver Spring-based Torti Gallas and Partners Inc. is the architect.
Construction is expected to start in the spring. Giant will be open in the first quarter of 2013.”
This is the lot where which recently hosted an art exhibit.
Photo of ‘deviled eggs at 2amys’ by PoPville flickr user laurarotondo
“Dear PoP,
I have been meaning to write you for a couple of weeks about Tom the Egg Guy, who is at the Petworth Farmer’s Market. I have been getting my eggs from him, as well as many of our neighbors, since the market started. I love his eggs and attempt to let everyone about how delicious they are. Apparently he also goes to the DuPont Farmer’s Market as well. Now, with our Farmer’s Market ending in a couple of weeks, I have been worried about how I am going to survive the winter without them. I asked Tom if he sold his eggs anywhere in town and he said no, but that he was considering talking to YES! Organic Market about maybe carrying his eggs. I told Tom I would request that at the store as well. I am going to ask Tom this week if he has talked to anyone at the store yet, but in the mean time, if you can help me reach out to more of the Petworth population, to please ask YES! to carry his eggs the next time they are in the store, the more requests they get the more they will consider the suggestion (at least this is what Gary Cha-owner has said that part of his business philosophy is to be responsive to his customers). Please help me be able to get the best eggs I have ever tasted year round. I doubt I am the only person who would be willing to purchase a dozen a week. The store has a suggestion book, I wrote up my request in there.”
I also happen to be a fan of Tom so I think this would be great. I never thought I could tell the difference between eggs but his really are awesome. In addition to the instore suggestion book, you can contact YES! Organic Market on-line here. Any other fans of Tom?
“Dear PoP,
I was surprised to see the expanded grocery section at Target (located in Columbia Heights’ DC USA) has already opened – a few days ahead of schedule. The price of romaine lettuce is the same as Giant, the price of an avocado much higher than Giant. That was the extent of my comparison shopping!”
Anybody think they’ll use this new option – or are you more likely to do grocery shopping at Giant?
Another reader sends word of this Target grocery section promotion backfire:
“I don’t know if I would go to the fresh grocery section of the local Target after seeing this (photo below) as the free giveaway today at Union Station announcing the opening of the “fresh” produce section.”
“Dear PoP,
We would love if you would help draw a little attention to our 5% Day at Whole Foods this week. At all three stores on Wed. the 15th, 5% of sales will directly benefit The Farm at Walker Jones, an emerging urban farm serving the great kids, families and neighbors of Walker Jones Education Campus, a DC public school.
Our farm is huge by school standards, and was launched as part of larger school wellness initiatives for our school population. 100% of our kids receive free meals here at school, and we want to help both the children and the families realize that sound food choices are accessible to all.”
Thanks to a reader for sending in the photo. Ed. Note: I fully reserve the right to make this photo of Mayor Fenty and CM Marion Barry the caption contest pick for next week… The reader writes:
“Heres a pic I snapped at the grand opening of the YES Organic Market on Pennsylvania Ave in SE (Ward 8). Here is a tender moment of Fenty & Marion Barry who Fenty introduced as “Mayor for life”. They went on to say it was a 26 million dollar project of mixed use retail with parking and affordable housing (above) to promote access to healthy food. Politics in an election year make for interesting moments.
Its exciting to have new development nearby, I’m in Ward 7 in Hillcrest. They said they plan to do more of these, but we just wonder how well it will work?”
From a press release:
The first organic grocery store to open East of the Anacostia River, Yes! Organic Market is committed to making fresh produce and healthy food affordable to the diverse demographic of families in the surrounding neighborhoods. The store is accepting supplemental nutrition assistance benefits (SNAP) and Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program vouchers.
The Yes! Organic Market is nestled in a new building with 118 rental units of affordable housing that opened in June. The units are slated for residents who earn 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less. The building, also known as the Grays on Pennsylvania, is owned by Chapman Development, headed by Timothy Chapman. Mr. Chapman and Yes! Organic Market owner Gary Cha have entered into an agreement to pursue five additional projects to develop multi-use buildings with affordable multi-family housing and a Yes! Organic Market in underserved areas within the District.
The DMPED awarded Yes! Organic Market with a $900,000 Great Streets grant. The project also received support from the District’s Supermarket Tax Credit program. The store created a total of 30 jobs; 25 of which are filled by District residents. All but one of the residents reside in either ward 7 or 8; the remaining resident lives in ward 5.
Photo by PoPville flickr user icubaji
Back in July I posted some photos of H Mart to a photos from PoPville post. I had no idea there were so many fans. H Mart is a specialty Asian Market with locations nationwide including a few locations in MD and VA. So I couldn’t believe it when a tipster sent word that H Mart was negotiating for the old Secret Safeway space at 1800 20th St, NW in Dupont. I believe there are a few folks negotiating for this space but thought the fans of H Mart would be psyched to learn about this possibility. Of course this is only scuttlebutt so I’ll be sure to update as more info becomes available on the new tenant.
If an H Mart does sign a deal on this space, do you think it’ll be a good fit with the neighborhood?
Back in May I wrote a post titled, Battle of the Safeways: Haves vs. Have Nots which generated a huge discussion. I’m happy to relay the news that Petworth’s Safeway may become a ‘Have’ from Jonathan O’Connell in today’s Post:
“The developer behind of one of the District’s more successful recent condominium projects [ City Vista in Mt. Vernon Sq.] is nearing a deal with Safeway to bring a 210-unit housing and grocery store development to Georgia Avenue, in the Petworth neighborhood.”
We’ve heard rumblings of Petworth’s Safeway getting redeveloped many times before but this is the first time the folks behind the City Vista project have been mentioned. Suffice it to say, I think this would be a tremendous development. I will now keep my fingers crossed and continue to knock wood until this deal is officially signed…
I’ve been getting a steady number of emails with the following type of query:
“Dear PoP,
Have you heard anything about what will be going into the now-vacant Townhouse/Secret Safeway?”
Unfortunately I haven’t heard any details on who/what may be moving in. I don’t even have any reliable, or for that matter unreliable, scuttlebutt on the space. Have you guys heard anything?
If not let’s dream a little. What/who do you think would be the perfect tenant for this location. A brewpub? Would a restaurant be a natural fit here? Given the large space and location what do you think will work best here?
Also, for the folks that live nearby, will you miss the grocery store?
We judged the new building at 2200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW back in June. At the time we knew that a “full service grocery store” was slated for one of the retails spots. But now according to Bisnow we learn about two big signings – “Whole Foods (38k SF) and Vinson & Elkins law firm (around 75k SF).”
It’s no Trader Joes but a big score for Foggy Bottom residents.
“Dear PoP,
You may have already covered this, but today I went to the Target at DC USA, and the new layout sucks. I understand they are creating space for fresh produce, which is great; but I was wondering if some of the isles are going to remain that narrow. They are about the width of the grocery carts!”
Hmm, I went to check it out and it seemed really open. My guess is that since the grocery expansion isn’t coming until Oct. they’ll probably tweak the final layout.
Have others noted that the new Target layout sucks?
