3412 11th St, NW

Back in Feb. I shared the news that the PORC food truck was opening a brick and mortar restaurant in Columbia Heights in the old Aquario space at 3412 11th St, NW (next to Meridian Pint.) Yesterday they released the name via email:

Kangaroo Boxing Club to Open in Columbia Heights

Brought to you by the founders of popular food truck, Purveyors of Rolling Cuisine (PORC), Josh Saltzman and Trent Allen; along with fellow U of Michigan alum Chris Powers and DC-native Peyton Sherwood.

Set to open this spring (or early summer, depending), the new neighborhood bar and restaurant, Kangaroo Boxing Club, will offer brick-and-mortar versions of popular PORC offerings and other unique KBC selections.

Kangaroo Boxing will be the establishment everyone wishes for their own neighborhood. A nice relaxed atmosphere, quality and consistent menu options and a solid selection of beer and wine. KBC will be located at 3412 11th St. NW in Columbia Heights, next door to Meridian Pint.

The name, Kangaroo Boxing Club, comes from long-running, drink-infused, late-night bar discussions on the fact that, without technology, man is physically unable to compete with the majority of the animal kingdom. How would you win a match with a kangaroo?



Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour

The Capital City Diner closed in late Jan. 2012 and was listed for sale on ebay in early March. Yesterday, the Post reported:

“owner Matt Ashburn says he’s close to a deal to sell the historic diner to a group that would keep it in the District — apparently not far from its original site in the Trinidad neighborhood.”

I suppose Trinidad isn’t too far from Petworth/Columbia Heights once the extensive Streetcar grid is in place. Anyway, a reader sends word of potentially life altering news, for me, about the new location. And perhaps, for some, even better than the new location is the new vision – “Kosher-style Jewish deli sandwiches” and “a rooftop outdoor patio featuring a tiki bar”!

Check out this Craigslist ad Cooks, servers, manager wanted for 24hr diner (Petworth/Columbia Hgts):

“EXPERIENCED SERVERS & COOKS!!!!! New 24 hour diner being moved to Columbia Heights/Petworth seeking experienced cooks & servers for all shifts / full or part time. We purchased a classic silver diner car will move it to the CoHi/Petowoth area. We plan to be open by August 1, and are seeking experienced persons to help open this exciting venture.

We plan to seat appx 75, with a rooftop outdoor patio featuring a tiki bar. Food will be classic diner fare, with Asian fusion. Menu will prominently feature Kosher-style Jewish deli sandwiches, with bread baked fresh every morning.”

Another Passover/Easter miracle in the making?


Hipchickindc is a licensed real estate broker. She is the founder of 10 Square Team and is affiliated with Keller Williams Capital Properties. 10 Square Team is a princeofpetworth.com advertiser. Unless specifically noted, neither she nor the company that she is affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below. Unless otherwise noted, the source of information is Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), which is the local multiple listing system. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 1420 Harvard St NW #406
Legal Subdivision: Columbia Heights
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Columbia Heights
Original List Price: $239,900.
List Price at Contract: $239,900.
List Date: 02/07/2012
Days on Market: 7
Settled Sales Price: $239,900.
Settlement Date: 03/15/2012
Seller Subsidy: $3050.
Square Footage (per tax record): 686
Settled Price per Square Foot: $345. (possibly quite a bit lower, if tax record is inaccurate)
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Cash
Original GDoN post is: here.
The listing can be seen: here. To see pics…sorry, no interior pics on this one. You’ll have to use your imagination.

This Good Deal or Not Revisited (GDoN-R) looks at a recent sale in an older 24 unit condo conversion in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. A commenter to the original Good Deal or Not (GDoN) post mentioned that this building was originally structured as an affordable housing option for first time buyers in the mid-1980’s.

Although the tax record reports square footage at 686, an earlier listing claims that the unit is actually over 900 square feet. The tax records indicate that units in the building range from 601 square feet to over 900 square feet. Tax records also show an investor ratio of over 50%, which can affect the ability to get financing. The settled listing information notes that this was a cash sale. It is not clear whether the new buyer is an investor or an owner occupant.

The earliest listing information found for this particular unit was an attempt to sell this 2 bedroom 1 bath property back in 1995. At that time, it was listed for $65,500. It remained on the market into 1997, ultimately priced at $59,900. Even at that low price, it expired and appears to have not sold. The current listing, which was under contract in a week, tells the story of a transformed neighborhood and a very different real estate market.

The building is located a short distance to Metro and DC USA shops and restaurants. Properties on the block include a new construction condo building, as well as a a recent GDoN-R subject that will likely be converted to new condos.


Dear PoPville,

I was walking on Park Rd tonight between 14th and 16th and as I walked by the rotisserie chicken place I saw a chalkboard sign advertising it as “The People’s Noodle Bar”. The inside didn’t look too different and the large sign on the outside of the building still advertises the chicken place. There were a couple of people inside but I didn’t stop in to check out the menu. Looks like they are finally open!

Back in Nov. 2011 a reader first alerted us to the possibility of a People’s Noodle Bar coming to Senor Chicken in Columbia Heights. Since Senor Chicken closed, I had heard that there was a delay in opening because of lease negotiations. Glad somebody has reopened in the space but I’ll be very sad if we lose the Senor Chicken sign



Photo by PoPville flickr user Faucetini

Last Sunday’s shooting at IHOP in Columbia Heights and Monday night assault at Georgia and Irving St, NW have both been classified hate crimes targeting gay men.

CM Graham writes:

MPD now has more completed information on these crimes than was apparently initially available. I had inquired on Sunday, hours after the shooting, and I received a report different than what is available today. It is now clear that both are hate crimes, in fact, that targeted gay men.

Such crimes clearly will not be tolerated. And we are all agreed on that.

As to the shooting inside IHOP at 6:30 AM, the video camera footage has been obtained, and police are confident of a closure on this. During the meal time, there were homophobic slurs aimed at persons at another table. But what led to the shooting/fight, according to MPD, was an interaction at the cash register when the persons from each of the tables were paying their bills. Fortunately, an off duty MPD detective was eating at IHOP at this time and he intervened immediately.

As to the serious assault on George Avenue, that has now been classed as a hate crime based on the homophobic slurs that were made preceding the assault and robbery.

Other than the deplorable fact that in both cases the victims were gay men, there appears to be no connection between them.

I am prepared to work with all the victims, and other stakeholders, to see that justice is done here.



3105 14th St, NW

I first heard some scuttlebutt back in Aug. 2011 about a Cava Mezze Grill coming to Columbia Heights and then in late Jan. 2012 I heard they were looking at 3105 14th St, NW currently home to Radiance Medspa. That scuttlebutt is now confirmed! The building’s owner Chris Donatelli tells me that the lease has been executed and Cava Grill is aiming for a July 1st opening.  Cava Grill is run by the same folks who own Cava Wine Bar located on Barracks Row at 527 8th St SE. Cava Mezze Grill is also coming to 4237 Wisconsin Ave, NW in Tenleytown.


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