Yesterday we learned that B. Smith’s restaurant had closed after 20 years in Union Station. In other closing news – Fire and Ice closed their space at Union Station on Sunday. I hear an Aveda salon could be taking over the space but that’s not confirmed. In opening news – the H&M opens Thursday at noon.
B. Smith’s Restaurant was located at the very eastern end of Union Station. They closed after 20 years on Friday. We judged B. Smith’s back in March 2011.
It’ll be very interesting to see who takes over this large space.
Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw
“Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) is proud to announce it will deepen its ties to the Washington, DC metropolitan area when it brings Shake Shack® locations to Union Station – Washington, DC and Tysons Corner in Northern Virginia. Both Shacks are slated to open in mid 2014.
Prominently located in the vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood, Shake Shack Union Station will be in the original West Hall of the restored and revitalized landmark building, which dates back to 1907.”
Shake Shack currently has locations at 9th and F St, NW in the Spy Museum and at 1216 Connecticut Ave, NW.
Cool old photo tweeted out by Union Station:
“#UnionStationDC 50 years ago after the #marchonwashington”
Thanks to PoPville twitter follower schwars1 for sending word “New Pret a Manger (@Pret_uk) open in Union Station, and it looks awesome.”
I was pretty surprised to see this set up at Union Station. I could understand the old Best Buy kiosks where you could buy a new set of headphones but this just seems crazy to me. I guess if your train is delayed 6 hours but can you imagine a scenario in which someone would shop at a Kohl’s department store kiosk?
Tops is located in the former liquor store on the 1st floor towards the rear (Union Wine and Liquor is now located in the basement with the food court.)
Still waiting on the Pret a Manger:
At the end of October, the restaurant America closed in Union Station. The space has been completely gutted:
I also noticed that the small retail spaces adjacent to the former restaurant have been closed and drywalled over:
Though comic fans should know Phantom has moved upstairs:
I chatted with a bunch of merchants who all believe a new restaurant will be moving into the space. Though a few had also heard that Starbucks would be moving into the space. Starbucks currently has a small space closer to the Amtrak loading zones. Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.
An @PoPville reader asks on twitter:
“Why did Union Station put a no pedestrians sign by the sidewalk entrance to the garage?”
I saw lots of pedestrians using this exit over the weekend so perhaps the sign is just for the street part? Anyone know if this is enforced on the sidewalk as well? This garage in the rear of Union Station leads to some of the intercity buses like Bolt Bus and the path is a very popular route to H Street, NE.
