A French restaurant, a cousin to Estadio, a sister to Ted's Bulletin, a new Matchbox, and Rogues States burgers 2.0.
What do these places all have in common? They all might be on their way to 14th Street.
Lydia DePillis, the City Paper's crack Housing Complex reporter, unleashed a slew of news today about new restaurants coming to the neighborhood. Perhaps the biggest piece of news out of all of them is that the notorious "Shirt Laundry" building at 14th and Q, which had been slated to become an Italian restaurant until high renovation and environmental remediation costs got the better of the Whisk Group, is set to become Parc, a French brasserie from Philadelphia-based Starr Restaurant Group. The apparently deep-pocketed Starr Group is undeterred by the high clean-up costs of the desirable space, and those of you who have strolled by the building recently may have notice that the posters, stickers and handbills have all been sraped away. No timeline that I'm aware of, but I would expect movement there shortly.
Up the street and across the block, DePillis is also reporting that two restaurants are close to signing leases in the new District Condos building, although JBG's James Nozar isn't confirming anything yet. First, Mark Kuller of Proof and Estadio is said to be signing on for a space there, while the owners of Barracks Row's Ted's Bulletin will be opening up a companion restaurant there as well.
Moving up the street a bit more, local pizza joint Matchbox will be filling the space that was formerly the home of the Arena Stage warehouse at 14th and T. And, just to top things off, Raymond Mendizabal--whose Rogue States burger spot in Dupont ran into a bit of trouble with the Steptoe & Johnson law firm--will be opening up the new iteration of his burger spot, Black and Orange, at 1931 14th Street NW, near the intersection of 14th and U.
Combined with the recent announcement of the arrival of Taylor Gourmet sandwich shop, Jeff Black's Pearl Dive Oyster Palace and BlackJack Bar at 1612 14th Street, and the still-anticipated Italian Cinema Restaurant down the block...well, is 14th Street going to be anything other than a row of restaurants and furniture stores?
Thursday, June 9, 2011
14th Street Becoming Restaurant Row: Slew of Restaurant News
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17 comments:
I do want to note that Mark Kuller's representative says he has no plans to open a restaurant at the District condos, so that may not be happening, though it came from a generally reliable source. (Very PoP of me, I know, but at least I checked!)
Wowzers that is some big news. I think Ted's is open for Breakfast right? That would be nice.
Ugh, Matchbox? Really?
I'm excited for the Ted's and Proof-owned rumors. But I agree, let's get some local businesses that aren't restaurants.
How have other neighborhoods dealt with this? Doesn't Barracks Row have a bit more diversity?
The reason why the shirt laundry got cleaned up was to avoid a "blighted property" designation. I know the DCRA was investigating. That said - a tenant is good news.
What diversity does Barrack's Row have? A closed Blockbusters? We have far more diversity with music venues, theater, clothing stores, design stores, art galleries, pawn shops, and furniture stores
14th becoming fine legitimate restaurant row is wonderful. And we have the broad sidewalks, unlike U, for the outdoor seating. (U needs it's sidewalks back).
It's good to see developer big-boys at least talking to local restaurants and businesses. Their rental divisions are often out-of-town and used to only dealing with certain national chains. I wouldn't consider diversity to mean a Walgreen's between CVS and Rite Aid. But I do like the local stores staying.
And that will bring the next wave of controversy when the big concrete box boys start taking down local favorites to build. I like the St.Ex to Standard (beer garden) row the way it is and will hate if a big concrete box replaces it.
Does anyone know what's happening to the 2 or 3 vacant spaces Dogs-by-Day left? No gossip on them and that's unusual.
This is what happens when you don't have enough density in much of the city. We only get restaurants. Seriously, no one buys clothes in this city? DC fashion is dreadful and can use more clothing stores. Unfortunately, we don't have enough people to support stores. Chicken or the Egg I guess.
@ Anonymous...What ?!!? Brown Flip-Flops, Yoga Wear and exposed belly's aren't your cup of tea?
I say bring on the restaurants. Only probem is ALL that stupid wasted tax money spent on those stupid street light "art" flags will have to be changed to "food" flags.
Whose idea was those stupid "art" flags anyway?
Goodbye art.
Hello GOOD food. (Taylor Gourmet does not count as good food.)
What is all this moaning about it becoming a restaurant row? First of all, as others have pointed out, there are furniture, clothing and other stores along 14th street. Second, 14th Street is not downtown - it is a major thoroughfare of the city surrounded by residential neighborhoods. I think that retail benefits from being surrounded by other retail, which is why certain districts of the city see it more heavily - such as Georgetown and Chinatown.
I think all of this news is fantastic. Matchbox has some great food and I am all for them coming to the neighborhood.
Yawn..... tired, same old, same old.
Anonymous (1:25am) said: "Yawn..... tired, same old, same old."
What is tired is posts like yours. You say nothing about what you would prefer and are just whining like a child. If you were in this neighborhood 15 years ago you would understand how amazing all this development is.
anything is preferable to another bank! how many are already on P street between 14th & 15th? with electronic banking who needs them and at night they certainly do not add to the atmosphere of the neighborhood.
All this is great. I love it when my friends want to come to my neighborhood to eat and hang out at my place instead of making me trek to Georgetown or worse, Arlington!
Restaurants bring evening foot traffic. Higher foot traffic attracts retail outlets. Nobody is going to open a storefront if there is not enough foot traffic to support the sales. Nobody is going to drive to 14th to go shopping if there are other locations wherever they are going to hang out anyway. So restaurants are a good step in the right direction.
I am happy to hear more restaurants are coming to 14th, but can they please not be the super sterile, lacquered trend zones that all the others are?
I'm so excited to hear that Parc is coming to the neighborhood. I've been there several times in Philadelphia and it is a consistently good, casual French bistro.
@anon 8:38 Matchbox and Ted's Bulletin are the same ownership, so don't get too snotty.
Makes sense they are both moving in, since they do cluster their restaurants (DC-3 on Barracks Row is there, too).
More restaurants on 14th Street is great news. Anyone who says otherwise is probably jealous they don't live closeby or can't get in on the eat/drink/make money action themselves.
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