actually that spot is where the condos and ground floor retail will go. The new giant will be replacing the old giant. and a parking garage will replace the parking lot. I for one miss Murphys. Its where we always got our school supplies growing up. Does anyone know if Sullivans will return as a ground floor tenant of the new building?

Yeah, the NIMBY’s that have been blocking this development for well over a decade will probably continue their push. I also stand in the “believe it when I see it” camp, but I’m not holding my breath – those folks have the money, lawyers and political strings to impede just about anything.

The reason that I like this area so much is that it’s got that down to earth, small town, main street feel, with this weird mural art over an empty space. Parking is a breeze. Walking around here feels less hectic than all of DC. However I hate to say this, I kind of feel really protective of this area, and a bit NIMBY about a new condo/supermarket development. The last thing I want to see is to see this turn into a Friendship Heights situation. We got development in Columbia Heights. We got U Street corridor. We got Georgetown. We need some diversity in this city. Not every corner should look like other corners, and this patch of area is quite unique~

As long as Cactus Cantina remains open during construction, I’m cool. Love me some fajitas…

Don’t hold your breath about Sullivan’s Toys/art supplies or any of the north block tenants remaining, except for Starbucks. That is not the developer’s vision for the site, rents likely will be much higher, plus the 56,000 square foot Giant intends to sell toys itself and won’t want the competition. The photo examples of the “neighborhood serving retail” that the applicant included in its submission to the Zoning Commission showed Pottery Barn and Godiva Chocolates! It will be just another generic, upscale urban mall concept (although Giant is not as upmarket, say, as Whole Foods, but they own the site).

I would shop when it was a GC Murphy, and they had a good selection then at a reasonable price even when the upscale stores became commonplace, those old Five and Dimes are missed looking back when they had a lunch counter at those stores, Murphy’s, Woolworth’s Newberry’s, McCrory’s, and thanks for taking me back with fond memories of those old stores, as I hope the sign at the old GC Murphy will find a collector or at a museum.