Restaurant News: Work Underway at "Italian Shirt Laundry", No Sandwich Shop (for now) at S and

At long last, work appears to finally be getting underway at the vacant "Shirt Laundry" building at the corner of 14th and Q streets. This summer, it was announced that the building--which for many years had housed the Shirt Laundry Dry Cleaners store--was going to be converted into an Italian restaurant and bakery called the Italian Shirt Laundry. The group developing the property, The Whisk Group, will also be opening a a second Italian restaurant a bit further down 14th Street called The Italian Cinema.


We had heard that the site may have some environmental remediation issues to contend with, which appears to be true with the current "Asbestos Removal" project going on at the building. Never fear though, as that part of the project will be over with very quickly, and come spring diners should be able to enjoy asbestos-free pasta and charcuterie.

The Italian Shirt Laundry will be the slightly downmarket of its ritzier cousin, Italian Cinema. The arrival of both restaurants will mean three Italian restaurants within a few blocks of each other along 14th Street (with Posto currently in operation in the Viridian building). Having three Thai restaurants within close proximity seems to be working out so far, so perhaps the market for Italian cooking is not yet saturated in Logan.

One thing that most CERTAINLY is not saturated is the desire for a good sandwich shop in the neighborhood. Yes, yes...having an embarassment of Italian riches from which to choose for a night out is a nice problem to have, but what about those times when you just want a nice roast beef and havarti? Sadly, those of us who live in Logan and have experienced that craving have not had much satisfaction. We had a glimmer of hope back in May that a deli might be coming to the corner of S and 12th street, but unfortunately, as U Street Girl reports, it seems like that is longer in the cards.

The space is still vacant, and the owner of the property indicates that the gentleman who was going to open and operate the deli will not be moving forward with the project. For shame.

Still, the building's owner indicates a strong desire to get a business opened in the building, which appears contingent upon a rezoning of the property. Meanwhile, those of us looking for a nice chicken salad on rye will have to be content to wander over to the Dupont Market on 18th. Which, if you haven't been, makes a very mean sandwich.

"Italian Shirt Laundry" and "Italian Cinema" Headed for 14th Street

One of 14th Street's mysteries--who will take over the former Shirt Laundry space located at 14th and Q streets--has been answered. Later this year, local restaurant developer The Whisk Group and Abdo Development will be bringing an Italian restaurant and bakery--Italian Shirt Laundry--to the currently dilapidated former drycleaners. According to a report from the Post's Tom Sietsema, blueprints have already been drawn up for the establishment. You have to believe that the plans will include some way to make use of what could be a lovely outdoor patio space fronting Q Street.

Whis Group owner Mark Weiss has indicated that he plans to have the operation running by the end of the year, but that seems ambitious. They have yet to appear before the ANC regarding a liquor license, and there have been concerns expressed regarding potential environmental remediation issues at the site (drycleaners, in spite of their name, don't leave particularly clean environments in their wake).

A little further down the street, at Abdo's offices at 1404 14th Street, yet another Italian restaurant developed by the Whisk Group--this one called the Italian Cinema--will move in. According to Sietsema, the Cinema will feature "pasta, charcuterie and, as the title suggests, Italian films screened against a wall on the restaurant's roof."

With Posto already entrenched along the east side of 14th Street in the former Veridian location, does this announcement make 14th Street the new hotbed for Italian cuisine in DC?