Le Diplomate_chef_dc
Photo by PoPville flickr user clif_burns

Hearing rumors that Le Diplomate’s executive chef, Adam Schop, has either left or is leaving soon. Before Le Diplomate opened last year the Washington Post reported:

“Adam Schop. The 37-year-old chef, whose resume includes the pan-Latin Nuela in New York and the admired Zinc Bistro in Scottsdale, beat out more than a dozen serious candidates for the job – including three French chefs.”

Not sure how/if Schop’s leaving will affect the menu but will update as soon as more info is known. Le Diplomate opened up almost exactly a year ago at the corner of 14th and Q St, NW.


van_ness_square_demo
4455 Connecticut Avenue, NW

A few weeks ago we noted the former Van Ness Square buildings had been completely demoed on Connecticut Avenue. A couple of readers have sent word that they heard rumors of a possible future Trader Joe’s. We first heard rumors back in August 2013. Anyone else still hearing this rumor? Saul Centers says that the new Park Van Ness development will include around “9,000 square feet of street-level retail and below street-level structured parking” – in August some doubted that was big enough for a Trader Joe’s. Anyone know the square footage of the 14th and U Street Trader Joe’s? I guess we’ve got a few years to find out… If they don’t come to Van Ness, what neighborhood do you think realistically has a good shot at getting the next one?

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Rendering via Saul Centers


results_gym

If true this is going to devastate many fit folks. A reader with a very good scuttlebutt track record (pun intended) sends the sad word that they hear Results on Capitol Hill will soon be sold. It’s not clear if it will become another gym or what but in January we learned that the downtown Results Gym was becoming an LA Fitness. We’ll see if they or another gym take over the Capitol Hill space at 315 G Street, SE.

UPDATE from Results:

“We expected rumors to surface when we sold the Downtown location to LA Fitness. We have had little luck with that location over the years… Being that it was in the middle of Downtown, pretty inconvenient to residents, it was more of a “daily lunch-time crowd” environment. To keep things brief, our Capitol Hill location has always been a bit more successful, leaving us no choice but to fund the struggling locations just to keep them open… We certainly tried to make Downtown work, but the opportunity quickly presented itself to avoid 3 more years in a lease and take LA Fitness up on their offer.

Needless to say, we can start focusing all of our finances on one location. Being able to improve the facility and equipment has been one of the most difficult tasks with the financial burdens of other locations in the past, on-top of Results always offering convenient month-month plans with no annual contracts. Proud to say, new equipment and flooring are arriving little by little and bringing quality back to this immense facility

We are having some community events this summer, we will also be offering some community-based free fitcamps as well. We are extremely excited about our Olympic platforms, our redesign of our 3rd floor and our Life Fitness Synergy 360 coming soon!”


Kate_spade_citycenterdc

Earlier this week @CityCenterDC tweeted the photo above:

“Look who popped up at #CityCenterDC today! Plan your @katespadeny purchases at http://www.katespade.com!”

And last week when we noted coming soon signage for Longchamp, a reader commented some interesting scuttlebutt about who else is coming:

“Hermes, Gucci, D&G, Tiffany&Co”


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3407 Connecticut Ave, NW

Last week we learned that Pulpo had closed and the space would be taken over by the Hula Girl Food Truck for a pop up over “for the next few weeks”.

Some very interesting reader scuttlebutt now about that space in Cleveland Park:

“Rumor has it that the Sardis group is taking over that space. They plan on opening their second Picca Pollo A La Brasa location. Looks like Washingtonian mags top chicken will be available in CP”

Picca’s website says:

“Established in 2013, by the owners of Sardi’s Chicken.

We wanted to start a new “Peruvian” concept, after being involved in the business of Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa with great success! Let us give you Picca Pollo a la Brasa…a new Peruvian concept that will amaze you in every way possible.

We are not just 2 guys dreaming, we are a group of people who think alike and have our hearts and souls devoted to conquer the palettes of the world with the greatness of the Peruvian kitchen.

Picca Pollo a la Brasa will offer you what no other restaurant has offered you before!”

Check out their menu here:

Picca Menu (PDF)

Picca’s website does have a section for partnership opportunities. Anyone ever visit the Germantown, MD location?


freshii_and_pizza_e_street
1005 E Street, NW

Earlier in the week we learned that Freshii had closed next to E Street Cinema. A very good source tells me that &Pizza will be opening up another location here. Currently &Pizza is located on H Street and U Street. They’ll soon open up in Brookland. And, perhaps, in trying to dominate the entire the DC pizza market – Washington Business Journal also reports &Pizza has leased a space at 14th and K Street, NW.


takoma_central
Takoma Central located at 235 Carroll Street, NW

Last week a reader wrote in:

“Glen’s Garden Market which has a location in Dupont Circle will be joining Busboys and Poets in the new Takoma Central project.”

Now word comes from the Takoma Listserv:

“Apparently the developer didn’t think they would succeed and they [Glen’s Garden Market] finally had to pull out, now they have a new partnership with a developer in Shaw who is basically going to build them a new store.”


bar_di_bari_logan_circle_red_light
14th and R St, NW

A couple weeks ago we learned Bar di Bari would be closing and reopening as ‘Red Light’. A reader reports a few details he overheard while at Bar di Bari:

“First, sounds like Bar di Bari will be closed as of this weekend (Sat or Sun, not sure which). The food offerings would seem to confirm this, since the case is damn near empty at the moment.

More interesting than that, however, is what Bar di Bari will become. When you last announced the name for Gordon’s new concept for the location, I laughed when a few of the commenters wondered whether “Red Light” was “a wink at what Logan used to be known for.” Turns out I shouldn’t have laughed – after having the luck to be sitting in the cafe while Gordon had a very overt design meeting with what I presume to be his architects/investors/etc. earlier this week, turns out that’s exactly the idea they’re playing off: a brothel-themed food space, with actual red lighting and faux-chic-come-amorous seating, including plush club chairs.

They weren’t really hiding anything, leaving notes all over the place in full view of the public, and it seems that the place will center around a lot of sweets, but perhaps not the morning baked goods (so maybe an evening only joint??). The staff (which is only two people at this point, way down from the 6 to 8 they used to employ) wouldn’t divulge too much, which is understandable.”

More info when it becomes available.


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435 11th Street, NW

While we’ve heard Peet’s Coffee and Tea will be taking over the Caribou Coffee spaces – a commenter says they hear they also will be taking over the vacant corner spot at 11th and E across from the E Street Cinema next to White Apron:

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UPDATE – Scuttlebutt confirmed – thanks to a reader for sending:

peets_dc

“Peet’s Coffee & Tea at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, DC – Corner of 11th & E. I work in the building where Peet’s is opening and we received this last month. Will open Spring/Summer 2014.”


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