Data Dump of Restaurant News

Ok, so I recently started a new job and things have been a bit crazy, so it's been a bit more difficult to keep up with the flood of restaurant news recently. At any rate, forsaking much commentary or analysis, here's a brief round-up of where things are in the 'hood:

Standard, the new burger joint in the former Garden District space at 14th and S recentl had a soft opening, according to U Street Girl and Borderstan. I'd been watching the picnic tables going up slowly-but-surely, so I knew that this opening had to be imminent, but apparently last night the heat lamps were running and people were chowing down.

A bit south on 14th Street, work continues on Jeff Black's new establishments, the Pearl Dive Oyster Bar and BlackJack Lounge, continues to be built-out in the space at 1612 14th Street. No official opening date is set, but we're told "late spring/early summer" is likely.

According to DCist and U Street Girl, Dunkin Donuts will be joining Subway as a ground-floor anchor tenant in the soon-to-be-finished building at 14th and U. Prince of Northwest DC Petworth deemed the arrival of DDs at 14th and U to be a "beautful site;" I believe I'll settle for "a leased storefront."

And speaking of the building at 14th and U, long-promised "boutique steakhouse" and lounge Lost Society, brought to you by Aman Ayoubi of Local 16, will reportedly be opening in the spring. Of course, Lost Society was also supposed to open last summer, and in January, so you'll forgive us for not getting too excited until we're sitting on their roofdeck enjoying a plate of grass-fed cow.

And finally (phew), Touchdown, the new sports bar in the former MoMo's space on U Street, opened yesterday. U Street Girl has a brief review and pics. No official word on the opening of Touchdown's companion restaurant, the fish-chips themed Codmother, but we'll keep you posted.

What Could Have Been: "Diner," "Tryst" Team Opening in Columbia Heights

Remember back when there was talk of The Diner own Constantine Stavropoulos opening an outpost of his fledgling culinary empire in the U Street corridor? Sure you do. Approximately three years ago, while plans for the building at the corner of 14th and T were still up in the air (the City Paper even did a story on the building), talks were in the works to bring Stavropoulos and a 24-hour diner to the space.



Or, rather, I should say talks were in the works to prevent Stavropoulos from opening a 24-hour diner in the space, as local ANC officials and neighborhoods residents opposed to the concept helped to torpedo the plans. Furniture retailer Room and Board eventually stepped in to claim the space and did a bang-up job on the renovation (and the inexplicably decided to close the store at 7 PM every evening, just as people were getting home from work).

Meanwhile, Stavropoulos never abandoned his plans to open another "Diner" concept in central DC. And now, it seems he's finally landed a space on the burgeoning 11th Street corridor in Columbia Heights. The concept, currently named The Fishbowl, will consist of a combination of a coffee house, restaurant and bar/lounge, and will open in a building at 11th and Monroe that is currently under renovation.

When all is said and done, the over 7,000 sf space will welcome nearly 200 guests and--here's the kicker--be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (Of course, such plans are still at the mercy of local neighborhood groups such as the ANC, but by all rights Stavropoulos appears confident that the 24 hour concept will go forward.) At this point, some of you are probably breathing a sigh of relief that such a concept didn't open up at 14th and T, whereas others (a majority, I suspect) are likely lamenting a missed opportunity.

At any rate, the announcement by Stavropolous seems to solidfy 11th Street as one of the city's new premier restaurant/lounge corridors, and offers a sufficient rebuttal for those who think Columbia Heights is simply an extended suburban strip mall.

Restaurant update: Tacos coming soon; Touchdown and Codmother on the way

Catching up on some recent restaurant news in the 'hood, in abbreviated form:

U Street Girl (via Metrocurean) has the latest on El Centro D.F., the tacqueria opening soon next door to the Black Cat. El Centro, which is being opened by Richard Sandoval and Kaz Okochi, the team behind Masa 14, is aiming for a May 5 (get it?) opening. They plan to offer take-out tacos, a seated restaurant area, and the requisite bar/lounge space in the basement.

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict mind-numbingly huge crowds for this when it opens. (And considering that plans for the space were only announced last July, getting this open within 10 months would seem to be some sort of record.)

On the other side of the Black Cat, Thaddeus Kurtz continues to be hard at work opening the casual burger and hot dog shop Standard in spite of a rough start to the proceedings. No official opening word, but the outdoor picnic tables appear to be about done, and interior work is wrapping up as well.

Across the street, caffeine purveyors Peregrine Espresso continue to work away towards a "Spring 2011" opening. (They also appear concerned over the lack of businesses along the 1700 block of 14th street.)

As we head north we arrive at the corner of 14th and U streets, where it was recently learned that Subway will be opening on the ground floor of the recently renovated building on the northeast corner of the intersection. This will be Subway's 1,345th third location within a few block radius of the 14th and U intersection. I thought only Starbucks could pull crap like that.

Headed a little further down U STreet, the street's two newest eateries--the Touchdown sports bar and the fish 'n chips shack Codmother--will be opening soon in the former Cafe Nema's space. Both Touchdown and Codmother are, according to WBJ's Missy Frederick, owned by the same team behind Bistro La Bonne, Tabaq and Soussi.

Finally, no, I don't have any word as to when the new steakhouse/lounge at 14th and U will be opening. Local 16's Ayman Ayoubi had promised a January 2011 opening, but unless you're a member of the construction crew no one's really hanging out there yet.

Closing: Pasha Bistro and...the Post Office?

We frequently write about the opening of new businesses and restaurants, so it's only fitting that we occasionally write about some closings as well.



Borderstan reports--and a subsequent walk-by confirms--that Pasha Bistro, the 17th Street Turkish cafe, has closed its doors. In its place will be "Pizza No. 17," opening on March 1. According to owner Payam Yadzani, Pizza No. 17 will offer "organic, wood-fired pizzas." For the 14thandyous, this is dreadful news. Pasha's gyros, grape leaves and cigar borek served us well on many a weekday evening when we were either unwilling or unable to cook. As recently as two weeks ago, we were sitting in their dining room making use of our recently purchased Groupon.

I wish I could say that I was excited about the prospect of wood-fired pizzas, but anymore it seems that half of the restaurants in DC are offering some variation of "wood-fired pizzas." For those nights when you can't get a seat at Coppi's, perhaps Pizza No. 17 will fit the bill.

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On a slightly different note, those of you who have shaken your fists (or considered acts of violence) at the patron-disdaining clerks of the 14th and T Post Office may not have to shake your fists much longer. Seems that location is on the USPS's short list of post offices to close as part of a cost-saving measure.

While I will be the first to admit that it's very beneficial to have a post office conveniently located in the neighborhood, going there often felt like entering a dilapidated convenience store where the clerks all yell at you from behind bulletproof glass, and your feet stick to the floor in a way that reminds you of your worst college dive bar experiences.

According to DCist, the USPS plans to shutter 2,000 post offices across the country, and the 14th and T location--having been on a planned 2010 closure list, but somehow having survived it--seems destined to go. The office does seem to be heavily used, and so I can only wonder what criteria was used by the USPS when selecting offices for closure. But I don't think too many people will miss being greeted at the door by a shrieking clerk at 12:55 on a Saturday because they want to close five minutes early.

Black's protest dropped; seafood restaurant and bar on its way

TBD reports this morning that all protests aginst Jeff Black's new seafood-themed restaurant and bar have been dropped. This means that Black can continue the build-out of the space can continue without any concerns related to the obtainment of a liquor license. As we reported previously, there were some sticking points in the negotiation process between Black, ANC2F and a group of citizen protesters.

The final license agreement stipulates closing hours of 1 AM weekdays and 2 AM weekends, along with outdoor patio hours of 11 PM weekedays, midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 10 PM Sunday. As part of the negotiations, Black agreed to drop plans for a so-called "smoker's deck" in the back of the restaurant.

No official word yet on an official opening date for the Pearl Dive Oyster Bar and BlackJack, but look for something early-mid summer.

January Opening for 14th and U Restaurant; American Ice Co. Opens Thursday

It's been about a year since we wrote about the new restaurant and club that was coming to the vacant space at the corner of 14th and U streets. When we last spoke with them, Local 16's Ayman Ayoubi, along with Policy's Omar Miskinyar, had grand plans to open a steakhouse along with a "music and arts space" at the highly visible corner. At the time, Local 16's Salvatore Rosa indicated that they hoped for a July 2010 opening.


Well, clearly *that* didn't work out as planned, as the space continues to sit vacant, awaiting for some kind of activity. However, that could be changing.

According to both The Feast and U Street Girl, Ayoubi has confirmed that the restaurant, which is still unnamed (it's unlikely that the name that was being tossed about last year--Cafe Society--will stick), will open in late January on the second and third floors of the building. That opening will be followed in March by the opening of a club "very similar to Eighteenth Street Lounge" on the basement level. A rooftop patio is likely to open in the late spring/early summer. (Look for a bank or some other high rent-paying entity to take over the ground floor between the two spaces.)

In her post, U Street Girl expresses skepticism that Ayoubi and his team will be able to meet this timeline; I must confess that I join her in doubt. Perhaps interior work continues on the space, but I haven't witnessed a great deal of activity there in recent months. We will see what materializes there, however. As this space materializes, and with the recent opening of Patty Boom Boom and forthcoming opening of the Hilton Bros.' Blackbyrd Warehouse, the intersection of 14th and U is shaping up to become the epicenter of mid-city DC nightlife. Whoo boy.

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Speaking of the Hiltons, I've had Eric's band Thievery Corporation's song "Warning Shots" playing on my iPod a lot recently. Which...doesn't really tie-in at all with the other piece of Hilton-related news, which is that their latest venture, the American Ice Co., will be throwing open their doors for the first time this Thursday.

The Ice Co., located at 917 V Street NW, will serve barbecue, cans of PBR, and will be a laid-back kind of joint, according to manager Joe Reza. The will-they-or-won't-they questions regarding the Ice Co.'s opening appear to have finally been put to rest...for now. Prince of Petworth has a nice (ridiculously awesome?) set of photos of the interior, if you're interested.

Plans Take Shape for 24-Hour Jazz/Supper Club at 14th and F

When plans were announced this summer that the Border's bookstore, located at 14th and F streets, was going to be closing and replaced with a new restaurant from the Clyde's group, it seemed like a rather mundane announcement about a new downtown restaurant from a familiar chain.

However, when it was later announced that, in addition to the restaurant, Clyde's had plans to open a 15,000 sf nightclub in the basement of the building, that raised a few eyebrows. In a part of town not known for its nightlife--particularly not on that scale--many wondered what kind of operation Clyde's had in mind.

Now, we're beginning to get some idea of what's to come. From its liquor license filing with ABRA, we learn that the new concept--which is tentatively called "Hamilton Square Grill"--will be seeking a CX (multipurpose) license, which would cover the restaurant, live music venue, and proposed 96 seat outdoor patio. The 35,000 sf space, which includes a 20,000 sf restaurant plus the downstairs nightclub, will feature sushi, a raw bar and, according to Clyde's executive VP Tom Meyer, "comfortable, good food and a menu with drinks."

Perhaps most interesting, however, are the operatiing hours for the space: they are requesting outdoor seating until 2 AM Sunday through Thursday, and 3 AM on weekends, and plan to be a 24 hour operation inside.

That's right: a 24 hour restaurant/club in downtown DC. Those of you who are NYC transplants are likely wondering what the fuss is about, but 24 operations are hard to come by in DC--even in neighborhoods known for their nightlife options.

The Clyde's group plans on a tentative late 2011 opening, but we'll see if that materializes.

[Breathless Tone] ROGUES STATES IS COMING TO 14TH AND U (or are they?)

Goodness, we step away from the blogosphere for one day, and what happens? Well, for one, the feds arrested some kook who thought he was doing some scouting for Al Queda by videotaping some Virginia Metro stations. (Hint: target the Arlington Cemetery stop after 8 PM).

But what REALLY had people going was today's announcement that recently evicted Dupont burger place Rogue States would be relocating to 1931 14th Street NW, in the vacant space formerly home to Bargain World.

Well, OK, the announcement wasn't made today, per se. It was actually made about two weeks ago, in a statement made under oath by Rogue States' owner during their legal battle with mega-law firm Steptoe and Johnson regarding the ventilation--or lack thereof--from their restaurant. Rogue States, you may recall, was forced to close that location.

But still, Holy Belated Restaurant News, Batman, there could be a new burger joint on 14th Street! If this move pans out, the guys over at Desperado's can't be too thrilled at yet another deceased cow purveyor only a block or so away.

It should be noted, however, that Rogue States' move isn't quite a done deal. According to comments made to the Washingtonian, Rogue States owner Raynold Mendizabal indicated that he was counting on revenue from the Dupont location to pay for the opening of the 14th Street location. With the Dupont location now sucked into the grease trap of history, it's unclear whether Mendizabal will be able to move forward with the 14th Street location.

Even if he doesn't, another burger/hot dog joint is destined for 14th Street anyway, with the eventual opening of "Standard" in the former Garden District spot at 14th and S.

ANC to Seek New Agreement for Black's Restaurant on 14th Street

At tonight's ANC2F meeting, the Commission discussed the as-yet-unnamed Jeff Black-operated restaurant coming to 1612 14th Street (next door to HR-57).

As you may recall, the space was originally slated to become a sustainable seafood-focused restaurant from local restaurateur Barton Seaver. Seaver had negotiated a voluntary agreement for the space with the ANC, however construction of the restaurant never moved forward. Jeff Black, whose other restaurants include the eponymous Black's in Bethesda and Blacksalt in the Palisades, announced plans to open a restaurant in the space in July.

At tonight's meeting, ANC2f commissioner Charles Reed said that Black notified the ANC of his intent to vacate the Seaver-negotiated VA for the space because of disagreements with certain components of it. Among those reasons cited was a clause forbidding the opening of an outdoor summer garden, which Black would like to include in his plans. Citing concerns over potential noise and vermin problems for nearby residents, Reed indicated that the ANC would protest the license application in order to negotiate a new VA with Black.

The issue was supposed to have been discussed this evening; however, the space did not have placards posted yet so no discussion could take place. Stay tuned for more on this one...

"Estadio" Liquor License Discussion Set for Wednesday

Welcome to 2010, 14thandyou-ers. I hope everyone had a safe, happy and relaxing new year's. I know we did.

What better way to ring in the new year than via an ANC2F meeting? Well, actually, I can think of several more attractive alternatives, but this is DC after all, and we do nothing if not local politics here, so I guess it fits. There are a couple of items of note on this month's agenda, not the least of which is a discussion related to a voluntary agreement for a liquor license for the forthcoming Estadio, the new culinary destination set to arrive later this year at 14th and Church streets. Estadio, you may recall, will be operated by the same team that is behind Penn Quarter's Proof.

Needless to say, the restaurant's liquor license application has been met with a fair amount of pushback from neighborhood residents--particularly those who live directly above it. Remember, that space was previously occupied by the Garden District, and a more benign downstairs neighbor you are unlikely to find. I'm not privy to the issues being addressed in the voluntary agreement negotiations, but it's safe to assume that they involve some combination of 1) operating hours, 2) noise, 3) trash collection and 4) traffic and parking.

It's worth noting, prior to embarking on this lively discussion, that the ANC is limited in its powers with regards to liquor license applications. It cannot refuse to grant licenses--only ABRA has that power. But it can enter the proceedings as a protestant (typically on the grounds of "peace, order and quiet"). The voluntary agreements that are negotiated in order for the ANC to drop their protest are, despite some evidence to the contrary, voluntary--meaning that if the two sides cannot come to an agreement, an adjudication hearing will be held to resolve the dispute.

Other items on the ANC's agenda for Wednesday evening will be a ratification of the Cork and Fork VA (the new wine shop opening across the street from Estadio), a discussion of ongoing crime issues at the Monterrey Condominium complex at 11th and N, and a review of the economic development recommendations put forth by the ANC2f Arts Overlay Committee during summer and fall of last year.

As always, meetings begin at 7 PM on Wednesday evening at the Washington Plaza Hotel in Thomas Circle. Additional information can be found at the ANC's website.

SweetGreen Coming to P Street

FroYo has declared war on gelato.

Somehow, we completely missed this when it was announced last month, but it seems that local frozen yogurt/salad shop SweetGreen has plans to open a branch of their growing chain next to Lululemon Athletic near 15th and P streets.  For those keeping track of such things, that will place it almost next door to the recently opened Pitango Gelato.  It should also fill the last retail vacancy on the P Street side of the Metropole development.

So, 14th Street will have dueling creperies, and P Street will leave consumers with the always vexing choice of whether to go with frozen yogurt or gelato.  As for the 14thandyous, we'll probably just stick with our beloved pints of Haagen-Dazs purchased from the CVS.

It's official: "Estadio" coming to Logan

Is 14th Street becoming THE dining destination in the city?  It's appearing that way as the onslaught of restaurants moving into the 14th Street corridor continues.  

We made mention a couple of weeks ago that the team from Penn Quarter wine bar "Proof" were looking to set up shop in Logan, and it seems today that the move finally became official, as the "For Lease" sign has come down from the window in their new space, and the ABRA hearing notice has been posted.






















"Estadio" will be opening in the space formerly occupied by the Garden District at 14th and Church streets, across the street from soon-to-open wine market "Cork and Fork".

The 125-seat establishment, which will be looking for a late sprint/early summer 2010 opening, will be an upscale restaurant serving Spanish cuisine.  Considering that the Proof guys are behind this, it's a safe bet that the wine selection will be top notch as well.

Operating hours are completely non-threatening, with a proposed 1 AM closing time during the week and 1:45 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, so hopefully the VA agreement negotiations with the ANC will go smoothly.

Neighborhood thoughts...

Just a few short, disconnected thoughts that I've had rattling around my head for a while.  Take 'em for what they're worth...

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It makes me happy to hear jazz pouring out of HR-57's front door on Wednesday evenings, because it means the week is more than half over.  Conversely, I am less than thrilled when the Sunday Night Football crowd gathers at Stoney's.

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Events like last weekend's Mid-City Arts Festival and August's "Dog Days" event are great for the neighborhood--they bring a lot of people into the area and provide critical support to local businesses and artists.  It would be great of organizations like the Mid-City Business Association could organize more events like it--a monthly artist/gallery hop, for instance?

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ChurchKey's beer selection is awesome.  Really.  If you love beer, you must set aside time to visit this establishment.  That being said, it appears that weekends there are going to be quite busy.  Mr. and Mrs. 14thandyou stopped in on Saturday evening and, after standing around and bumping elbows with the bartenders for about the 1000th time, decided to cash out after one pint.  We can't wait to go back when it's slightly less crowded--but good for them for attracting such a crowd.

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I'm concerned about the safety and general well-to-do of the gentleman who has been living near the mailbox at the corner of 14th and R streets, particularly as the weather turns colder.  I would hope that when the temps begin dipping down to near freezing, he'll have the sense to check into the shelter across the street.

On a similar note, I wonder if the panhandler who has been singing in front of the P Street CVS has been having success with his approach?

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Speaking of the P Street CVS, I wish an employee there would have the decency to turn down the piped-in music, or perhaps turn it off completely.  Peter Cetera, Christopher Cross and Taylor Dayne played at an unreasonable volume does not improve my shopping experience.

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Is it just me, or has the house at the corner of 12th and S streets been undergoing a renovation since the dawn of time?  Ditto the mansion at the corner of 13th and S.

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The Post Office near 14th and T streets gets a bad rap because the building is ugly and poorly maintained, and the staff is surly.  But, credit where credit is due:  I must say, the last few times I have been in there I have received wonderful service from the women working behind the counter.  Which is more than I can say for many of the restaurants in this city.

Sneak Preview: Birch & Barley and ChurchKey

Update: Both the Birch and Barley and ChurchKey websites are up and running. Not much info on either of them at the moment. Also, the ChurchKey team is maintaining a blog, where you can learn all sorts of useful information about how to properly serve beer. Mmmmm...beer.

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This evening, 14thandyou got a sneak peek at the new beer-centric establishments Birch & Barley and ChurchKey--which we learned will be having a soft opening tomorrow evening.


















So, what's the former Dakota Cowgirl space (located near the interseciton of 14th and Rhode Island) looking like? Well, you're looking at the dining room of first floor bistro "Birch and Barley", whose cuisine is being dubbed "rustic Americana." Hey, whatever--so long as it doesn't involve small plates, it's all good.


















Chef Kyle Bailey, a New York transplant, will be manning the kitchen, while another ex-New Yorker, Tiffany Macisaac, will be serving as pastry chef. One of her creations--Roasted Apple Beignet served with cinnamon chantilly, golden raisin purée and mulled cider sorbet--sounds just about good enough to eat.

Upstairs at ChurchKey, the focus is on the beer. We got to chat for a bit with beer director Greg Engert, who told us in a very excited fashion about the three chilled coolers where the establishment's 50 (!) on-tap brews will reside. There is the super-chilled 42 degree cooler, for lighter beers, a 48 degree cooler for medium-bodied brews, and a 54 degree cooler for the beers Mrs. 14thandyou might describe as "chewy"--a method that is not used by any other DC beer-serving establishments, Engert told us.


















They will offer a pub-style menu as well, but the focus is clearly going to be on the booze--in addition to the aforementioned 50 on-tap beers, ChurchKey will also offer over 500 bottled beers, 5 casks, 60 wines and 40 ciders. Which is good, because there is a very long 55 75' bar from which one can enjoy the libations.


















As if further proof were needed, the beer selection is currently residing in the space that will become the lounge--and as you can see, it took up a lot of it.


















Curious to find out more for yourself? Stop over tomorrow evening for the un-grand opening. The 14thandyous will be unable to make it, but if you get a chance to go please post comments and let us know what you thought.

Masa 14 open for business

Is 14th Street ready for another small plate restaurant? Let's hope so.

After months of construction and a soft opening last week, the latest entry into the 14th Street dining world, Masa 14, officially opened its doors for business yesterday.



















Image courtesy of Thrillst.

Masa, as you may recall, is the product of two esteemed DC chefs--Kaz Okochi (of Kaz's Sushi Bistro) and Richard Sandoval (of Penn Quarter's Zengo). Together, they have created a large (5,000 sf) dining establishment and bar/lounge. According to Masa's team, the bar itself--at 65 feet in length--will be one of the largest bars in the DC area.

As for Masa's culinary offerings, the "Asian and Latin small plate" establishment will offer a selection of sushi rolls, and seafood, meat and vegetarian small plate dishes, as well as a small selection of noodle dishes, for enjoyment in their 100 seat dining room. There is also an extensive wine and sake list.

Masa's full menu is available here.

Masa 14 joins an ever lengthening list of establishments along the 14th street corridor serving "small plate" offerings. Now, we've been to pretty much all of them, and have largely found them to be good to excellent. But it does beg the question: how many small plate establishments does one neighborhood need? Sometimes, I'd be thrilled with just a bagel sandwich, rather than pork belly al pastor tacos. But maybe that's just me.

Plans at 14th and N Shaping Up

Many of you have no doubt noticed the renovation currently ongoing at the building on 14th between N and Rhode Island Ave. The work being done on the building is turning what was once a decrepit property into something truly stunning. Witness the "before" image:















...and the "after":


















Pretty amazing, huh?

While plans for all of the building's tenants are not final yet, we can tell you about two that are likely to come. Part of the ground floor retail space will be filled by a Korean restaurant, and another part by a Subway restaurant.

Now, I'll be the first one to complain about the lack of good, cheap eats in the neighborhood. But I can't say that a Subway was what I had in mind, and it's not exactly befitting a space such as the one above. Still, the sandwiches are cheap, you can smell it from several blocks away, and you can annoy the Subway employees. So maybe it's not so bad?

We'll post further details about the Korean restaurant once we have them.

What's Coming to the Dry Cleaners Space? At Least One Person Has a Plan

Ever since the recent announcement that dry cleaners at 14th and Q streets would be closing, rumors have been swirling about what may swoop in to take its place. A recent poll over at Borderstan presents a snapshot of the pulse of the neighborhood, and the type of businesses that people would like to see here (affordable food, please).

Recently, 14thandyou caught up with Linda Welch, self-proclaimed "serial entrepreneur" and owner of such neighborhood businesses as Green Pets and Big Monkey Comics, about what she would like to do with the sought-after space at 14th and Q.

After the closing of Sparky's in 2007, Welch told us, she aimed to replace its presence in the neighborhood with a breakfast/sandwich-type establishment. There's no shortage of places to have a glass of wine and a plate of gourmet cheese, but as Linda said, "I just wanted a place I could have pancakes any time of day!" Mr. and Mrs. 14thandyou would be in hearty agreement there.

Thus, Linda sought out to explore the interest in such a neighborhood gathering spot. What she found, largely through the development of online community Elements (with help from friend Neil Takemoto), was strong community interest in the development of a neighborhood-themed establishment serving vegetarian/vegan/raw food.

The plans for the project are quite substantial: over 6500 square feet in total along with an outdoor space and a LEED-certified building, featuring the aforementioned vegetarian/raw food menu, "holistic" pet food, a "teaching space" including books about gardening and cooking, and a non-alcoholic "night bar" featuring organic juice and coffee.

In addition, Welch says, she would like to make the spot a true "community space," including serving as host to programs for inner city youth.

Welch recognizes that taking the project from paper to reality will require more than just big plans. To begin, the dry cleaners space is a premium location in the neighborhood, and competition for the space will be heated. Welch has held conversations with building owner John Assadoorian about her idea, who is--according to Welch--"interested in the project." However, others rumored to be interested include Constantine Stavropolous, owner of The Diner in Adams-Morgan, who was reportedly looking at the spot as a potential location for a new diner.

Others aren't certain that any kind of restaurant will open up in the space, which will require environmental cleanup due to the fact that a dry cleaners occupied the site for so long--which is further hampered by the presence of a creek running underneath the property, which will make clean-up that much more costly. (Local restauranteur Barton Seaver indicated that he rejected the space due to, among other factors, the anticipated clean-up costs.) Some feel that a non-restaurant national retailer may in turn be a better fit for the space. (Walgreens, anyone?)

Still, Welch is undeterred. She is currently searching for funding sources for the project, and plans to continue drawing interest through the Elements website.

"I think [this project] is sorely needed in this area," she said.

What ultimately happens at the site is, for now, anyone's guess.

Devilish Burgers Headed to 14th Street

Update 7/27: We have learned that the Policy guys have actually taken the entire corner--both the building pictured below and the building on the corner of 14th and U streets (the buildings are connected). The plans are currently for the aforementioned hamburger place to occupy the second and third floors of the building, with an as-ye-undetermined business to be located on the first floor. More details as we get them.

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Hot on the heels of the recent announcement of the forthcoming bakery and wine bar next to Marvin ("I'll have a loaf of cinnamon bread and a glass of your 2003 Malbec please"), 14thandyou has received this nugget of info: the space down adjacent to the bake-oenology place, located at 2001 14th Street, will in fact be a "top-shelf" burger joint owned by Policy's Omar Miskinyar and David Karim, and featuring creations from Policy chef Brian Murphy.

Sources tell us that one of the names currently under consideration is "Hamburger Hell". Although that name brings to mind area burger chain "Ray's Hell Burgers," Miskinyar insists that the name has "nothing to do" with the unconventional Arlington-based restaurant, and that other names are still being kicked around.

Plans for the restaurant include a 1200 sq ft. patio in the back--which is certain to become a point of contention during the negotiations with the ANC and area residents.

Miskinyar and Karim are aiming for late-spring/early-summer 2010 opening date.

This announcement means further development for the block of 14th street immediately north of U, although still no word on what's happening at the sizeable building located at the intersection of 14th and U streets. Rumors have been swirling that the guys from Marvin are interested, but nothing definitive yet.

More Info on "Table 14"; "World's Best Philly Cheese Steak" Coming to 14th Street

Metrocurean has an update today on the forthcoming establishment on 14th Street from the Local 16 guys.

Turns out, the name is going to be "Table 14". (We always thought "Local 14" was a bit unimaginative...)

According to Metrocurean, plans for the space "include a farm-to-table restaurant serving modern American cuisine with an Italian influence on the main floor; a yakitori grill and bar on the second floor overlooking a green roof and garden space; and a space for events on the third floor with a small roof deck."

Of course, details related to the deck and garden space remain to be worked out, however plans currently call for Table 14 to be operating by spring of next year.

In other news, a quick peak inside the former 14U coffee shop seems to show renovations moving forward for the soon-to-arrive "JJs: World's Best Philly Cheese Steaks".

Now, we know what you're thinking, and you have a right to be cynical. Any establishment that makes the claim of "world's best" anything (cheesesteaks, martinis, scrapple) is setting themselves up for failure and disappointment. Furthermore, I'm no native Philadelphian, but I'm fairly certain the word they were looking for is "cheesesteak".

Nonetheless, a good neighborhood citizens who wish no ill will on any of our fledgling businesses, for now we will give JJs the benefit of the doubt. Will they truly turn out to be the world's best? I am skeptical. Then again, I never thought I would see the day when we'd see plans for an establishment that combined chocolate chip muffins and chardonnay, but there you go.

Original plans were for JJs to be open in July, but, seeing as how the old 14U sign is still up and much work remains to be done inside...I don't see them making that deadline. Which I suppose beg the question: What will we see first, a health care plan or the world's best "Philly cheese steak" on 14th street? I think I might actually take Congress--and the points--on this one.

More Restaurant News: "Cork and Fork", Seafood Market Headed to 14th Street

The pace of restaurant growth along 14th Street continues, seemingly unabated.

First, in a move certain to raise eyebrows at 14th Street wine bar/small plate restaurant Cork, Virginia-based wine shop "Cork and Fork" are headed to 14th Street, in the currently vacant space across from Garden District at 14th and Church streets. Metrocurean has the scoop.

This finally settles the question of what might end up in that space, but it begs several others: with the Cork Market set to open this fall, Cork already in place and Whole Foods (not to mention several nearby liquor stores) nearby, does Logan need yet another wine-themed establishment? And, are the owners of "Cork and Fork" seeking to build on Cork's name and reputation by opening up a store only two blocks south, or is their arrival merely coincidental?

The build-out in the space is currently ongoing, and according to the owners the aim is to have the space open by December.

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In other restaurant-related news, many of you may remember Chef Barton Seaver from his days as chef at local mainstay Saint-Ex (or, if you're Mrs. 14thandyou, you remember him from high school). Seaver left Saint-Ex to take over the kitchen at Georgetown's Hook, where his sustainable seafood mantra led to widespread acclaim for the restaurant.

Now, fresh off the opening of Glover Park's Blue Ridge, Seaver is set to open an as-yet-untitled seafood market and restaurant at the long-vacant former home of 100% Mexico on the 1600 block of 14th Street, next to the HR-57 jazz club.

Scant details of the establishment are available, aside from the fact that his partner will be aforementioned Blue Ridge owner Eli Hengst.

The opening should provide joy to area seafood lovers since the loss earlier this year of seafood-themed Mar Del Plata from the 1400 block of 14th Street.