Columbia Heights

Props to Giant’s Customer Service

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader sends a great experience he shared with yelp about the Columbia Heights Giant:

Look, you’re not on yelp to look for a review of this grocery store, because you know what to expect when you go into any chain supermarket; that’s how these stores are designed. The effusive purple and yellow of Giant is ubiquitous; it permeates the aisles, the uniforms, and the signs throughout the store. You know where to find jelly, magazines, and the occasional rib-eye (but only if it’s on sale). You have your Giant card memorized and can probably find seven different means of egress in the event of a fire. Sure, each individual store is different: longer lines in some places, uninformed staff in another, but if you need groceries, and this joint is within walking distance, you’re going here, because the entire neighborhood does. Now, this isn’t the best stocked Giant I’ve ever been to, nor are the deli workers particularly fast about their meat slicing, but I am writing this post specifically to relay a story of customer service done right.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

“Two District Men Sentenced to 12-Year Prison Terms On Carjacking and Robbery Charges”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user KJinDC

From MPD:

Robert Jeter, 19, and Davon Watkins, 18, both from Washington, D.C., were each sentenced today to 12 years in prison for carjacking one victim and committing an armed robbery against another victim within a matter of hours, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Jeter and Watkins pled guilty in October 2012 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Gerald I. Fisher sentenced them to seven years in prison on the carjacking charge and an additional five years for the armed robbery.

According to the government’s evidence, the defendants approached the carjacking victim at about 10:30 p.m. on June 21, 2012 as he was walking from his car in a parking lot behind 1400 block of Irving Street NW. Watkins put a gun to the victim’s head while Jeter took the victim’s wallet and cell phone. Watkins then demanded the victim’s car keys. Watkins and Jeter then got into the victim’s car and fled the scene.

About six hours later, at about 4:15 a.m. on June 22, 2012, Jeter and Watkins approached the armed robbery victim as he was walking on Mount Pleasant Street NW. They knocked the victim to the ground, put guns to his head, and took his wallet and cell phone.

About 15 minutes after the armed robbery, police spotted the car taken in the earlier carjacking. The defendants ultimately abandoned the car and fled on foot. They were apprehended in the 1100 block of Clifton Street NW. The armed robbery victim’s cell phone was found in the center console of the stolen car. Fingerprint and DNA evidence analyzed by the D.C. Forensics Laboratory tied Jeter and Watkins to the stolen car.

In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the efforts of the detectives, officers, crime scene technicians, and forensic analysts who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Barlotta, Vivien Cockburn, Bridget Fitzpatrick, and Jonathan Kravis, who investigated and obtained the indictment in the case.

Scuttlebutt: DC Fish Carryout to Become a Mexican Restaurant in Columbia Heights?

By Prince Of Petworth


3475 14th Street, NW

A reader sends word:

Heads up – DC Fish Carry Out [where MPD had previously found large quantities of crack cocaine] on the corner of 14th and Otis closed, it looks like they are planning on turning it into a Mexican restaurant… I live nearby so I’ve been hearing a ton of construction, I asked the guys inside today and they told me about the restaurant. They said it should be open in a couple weeks.

New Restaurant, Mama Put, Coming to Georgia and Kenyon St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


3124 Georgia Avenue, NW

A new restaurant is coming to the former Tax Services storefront at 3124 Georgia Ave, NW. A liquor license application posted out front says:

“A new full scale restaurant serving Asian & African inspired food, with an atmosphere for lounging and listening to DJ music or Live Bands. Entertainment with a cover charge. Total number of seats is 99. Summer Garden seating is 18.”

Sounds promising! More info as it becomes available.

Tomorrow is National Pancake Day – Get a Free Short Stack at IHOP and Donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From an email:

I’m reaching out today about Tuesday’s National Pancake Day. All day at area IHOPs diners will receive a free short stack of pancakes. In lieu of payment, guests have the opportunity to make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Free pancakes – help cancer patients. It’s a win-win really. I’m hoping you’ll let PoPville know about the promotion. Last year in the DC Metro Area National Pancake Day raised $185,000 for LLS, and this year the 72 local stores have set a goal of $220,000.

IHOP is located on the 1400 block of Irving St, NW in DC USA

Man Found Stabbed to Death in the 1600 block of Fuller Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


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From MPD:

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal stabbing which occurred in the 1600 block of Fuller Street, NW.

On Saturday, February 2, 2013, at approximately 6:48 pm, units from the Third District responded to the 1600 block of Fuller Street, NW for the report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, they located an adult male lying on the floor inside a residence suffering from apparent stab wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and did not find any signs consistent with life. The decedent remained on the scene and was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia, pending an autopsy.

The decedent is identified as 68-year-old Howard Venable, Jr. of Northwest, Washington, DC.

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

Update from MPD:

“Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal stabbing which occurred in the 1600 block of Fuller Street, NW.

On Sunday, February 3, 2013, at approximately 8:08 pm, detectives from the Homicide Branch arrested 21-year-old David Jamal Wilson of Northwest, DC, charging him with First Degree Felony Murder while Armed in the stabbing death of Howard Venable, Jr.”

Tues. Afternoon Rental Option – Columbia Heights/Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

This rental is located at 3704 13th Street, NW:


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The listing says:

“Spacious 3BR home with sunny den in 3 level home, parking for one car in & nice patio back yard in rear! Hardwood floors, 1.5 baths, washer-dryer, large windows, all just steps from Columbia Heights and pet-worth metro!! There is a large basement with access to the back yard.”

This 3 BD/1 Full, 1 Half BA is going for $3,000/Mo.

Remember When? Vol. 3 – 14th Street Pre- DC USA

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Elizabeth McIntire

If anyone has a photo of an area/building/lot that has changed please send me an email at princeofpetworth(at)gmail with ‘Remember When?’ in the subject line. Thanks!

Thanks to Elizabeth for sending the above shot of the future DC USA in 2005. It’s the west side of 14th Street, NW with the former Woolworth’s in the background.


DC USA 2013

Landlord/Tenant Dispute at El Rinconcito Deportivo in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth


click photo to enlarge

A reader sends word of a “writ of Fieri facias from the DC Court on the window” of El Rinconcito Deportivo (3226 11th St, NW.) Last year we learned that El Rinconcito Deportivo would be closing at the end of November. It appears there is a serious landlord/tenant dispute where the court has intervened. In the meantime El Rinconcito Deportivo remains open until the dispute is resolved. More info as it becomes available.


3226 11th Street, NW

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