First the scuttlebutt, I hear that the owner of nearby Lola’s and soon to open Cheseapeake Room (see below) has purchased the Veterinary clinic on the 500 block of 8th Street, SE (pictured above). More info on this space as it becomes available. As it is only scuttlebutt the purchase of the property has not yet been confirmed.

Barracks Row seems to be getting as many new bars/restaurants as H Street, NE. Georgia Ave has a bit of catching up to do…

And here are a few new restaurants on Barracks Row that we have previously discussed here. And the building from the owner’s of Matchbox is looking good as well:

Continues after the jump. Read Full Post

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Ed. Note: As mentioned previously, Bloomingdale has been frequently teased with the possibility of getting a neighborhood bar. Hopefully the following tip will turn out to be true but as with all scuttlebutt please read the following as an unconfirmed report.

And the potential good news keeps on coming for the possibility of a bar finally coming to Bloomingdale. Now it looks like we may have a race on our hands. A reader writes in this scintillating tip – a bar called “Bloomingdale Hospitality” is looking to move into 116 Rhode Island Ave, NW and are in the process of applying for permits and licenses.

In late January I broke the news that Bloomingdale was close to getting its first bar (Rustik Neighborhood Tavern), to be located at 1832 1st Street, NW (near T St.), pending some permitting issues. Well 116 Rhode Island Avenue, NW is actually right around the corner so it’ll be interesting to see who makes it first. I’m really hopeful that Bloomingdale actually will get a neighborhood bar one day soon. And from all the folks I speak to, I think the first one to set up shop is going to be rewarded with a very grateful and loyal following…

I echo what the original tipster wrote:

“Here’s to hoping that with three projects on that corner, at least one will get finished!”

( Baraki is the third project referenced above.) As soon as a permit is posted I’ll be sure to update.

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As always, on a scuttlebutt post it is not confirmed but I believe this news has a high likelihood to be accurate. In other words I didn’t just hear this from a random lady at the grocery store… One more caveat is that I’m not exactly sure that this is the correct building. It could be another one from the 1200 block of H Street, NE. So here’s exactly what I heard – the owner of the bar Wisdom (which incidentally we just checked out a couple of weeks ago) has purchased a property next to Granville Moore’s located at 1238 H Street, NE. I hear that he is going to lease out the lower level to Granville Moore’s and the top level will host a bar, presumably similar to the style of Wisdom.

Again I’m not sure if this means The Martini Lounge will no longer exist or if it is a different building. I promise to update with more info as it becomes available. But this is the fun of running a blog – I can share with you interesting rumors as I hear them. I do believe this rumor will turn out to be true but like all scuttlebutt you have to take it with a grain of salt.

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I heard on twitter that the old firehouse at 1626 North Capitol Street, NW might temporarily house an art space. The great DC artist and friend of mine Scenic Artisan, Sean, promised to keep me updated on the progress. But I think this is great news if it happens!

We last spoke about this space in Feb. ‘09 when it was going on the market again.

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“Dear PoP,

I talked to the folks in the leasing office at Park Place and they let me know what all was going on with the retail space below. Sala Thai wants to open at the end of this month! Not sure if that’s possible, since construction hasn’t even started. The Park Place Cafe on the northeast corner hung coming soon signs in their windows yesterday! It looks like within a month or two we will have some great new additions to the neighborhood. The other rumor I got from them was that Ben’s Next Door on U St is seriously considering opening a second location at Park Place, even though no papers have been signed yet.”

Ed. Note: I’m also told that the Sala Thai space will also offer sushi like they do on U Street. If the folk’s from Ben’s Next Door commit to this space, I may be very well attempt my first back flip!

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Red Rocks (11th and Park) and Pete’s Apizza (14th and Irving) are two super popular pizza spots in Columbia Heights. Washingtonian broke the news on Red Rocks’ expansion yesterday:

“The beloved Columbia Heights restaurant RedRocks is opening a second location of its wood-oven-fire pizza joint. The owners just signed a lease on a space on the 900 block of King Street, right across the street from the Majestic.”

I was holding off writing about Pete’s Apizza because there are a few details still being wrapped up. But since word is spreading of pizza expansions I thought I’d share some scuttlebutt. While this is not 100% sealed yet I’m hearing that Pete’s would like to open two more locations. Speculation is that one could be in Clarendon and one on Wisconsin Ave. I’ll update with exact addresses as info becomes available.

I’m a fan of both spots but since we’re talking about them – I have to ask – do you have a favorite between the two?

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Last week we learned that Vegetate was closing at 1414 9th Street, NW. Immediately folks from all different neighborhoods were hoping to lure Vegetate to their part of town. It’s understandable as they have tons of fans. Well, I heard from a very reliable source that the owners were spotted touring the new building at 11th and Park Road, NW on Monday. I’m sure they’ll be touring a number of spots but it’s exciting that they’re considering this section of 11th Street. Remember this is the spot where the bar/restaurant Meridian Pint will take the basement and first floor (I hear that the bar is close to being built!). Vegetate would presumably take over the second floor making this building absolutely amazing.

So what do you guys think – would Vegetate be a good fit for this section of 11th Street?

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I spoke to some folks from Bloomingdale this week who had some interesting scuttlebutt. First is the the decrepit storefront at the corner of 1st and Seaton has been purchased. The word on the street is that it is going to become a Chinese food spot. The question is whether it will be sit down or takeout. The neighbors I spoke with said they were really hoping it would be a sit down spot. Again this is just hearsay but the neighbors I spoke to had heard that someone put a bid on this same property to open a pizza spot but they were out bid. And they of course were not referring to Baraki to be located at the corner of 1st and T.

Folks have been anticipating Baraki’s opening since Aug. 2008. Some neighbors that I spoke to said that the owner was still dealing with financial issues. While some construction has begun it doesn’t look like they’ll be opening anytime soon.

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A commenter writes from yesterday’s post showing before and after pictures from 14th Street:

“The Solea “Before” picture is almost identical to a building under renovation on 14th between N and Rhode Island. It’s going to be a Subway sandwich shop.”

I was wondering what that spot was going to become as last weekend when I walked by it looked very close to being finished. I’ll go by this weekend and try to confirm whether or not a Subway sandwich shop is going in.

And while the commercials say Subway is a healthy choice I thought I could combine this FQoTD from a reader:

“Aside from going to the typical weights and cardio gyms, can people recommend alternative places to go for staying in shape? Organized soccer leagues? Gymnastics? Dance studios? Running groups? I’ve seen that group of people at Meridian Hill Park who do what looks to be some sort of couples acrobatics – even stuff like that. What alternative programs are out there for staying in shape?”

I know ultimate frisbee kicked my ass. I’m sticking with walking all over town taking pictures… Anyone have good alternatives for staying in shape besides going to the gym?

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“Dear PoP,

I was over in Wesley Heights recently and noticed some construction going on in front of the New Mexico Ave Chef Geoffs. In the same complex there used to be a market. I can’t recall the name now but it was a chain and a few area locations closed. I’ve heard a couple rumors that space will become a Trader Joes but can’t find any mention of it anywhere. Wondering if its true a trader joes is going in there, and what the construction going on is, and if it’s related. It looks like the outdoor seating in front of chef geoffs is getting dug out.”

I stopped by Chef Geoff’s at 3201 New Mexico Ave., NW on Sunday, by the by they had some great live music going on, to ask if they had heard anything. They told me they had heard a number of rumors that a bookstore was coming or possibly American University administrative offices. They never heard anything about a Trader Joes going in. I’ll inquire with Trade Joes but I’ve found grocery stores never confirm rumors even if they are true. Seeing it in person though, I doubt there’d be enough parking for a Trader Joes. If I were a betting man, I’d think AU admin offices would be a much more likely tenant. I’ll be sure to update as more info becomes available. Chef Geoff’s did however say that they will continue to have outdoor seating, which is seasonal, out front. They expect all the construction to be completed by the spring.

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This is the spot that we looked at over the summer. The copper still looks fantastic. At the time I first looked at it the owner said she was holding out for something special in the retail space, possibly a bookstore or art space. Now this is pure scuttlebutt but word on the street is that there may be a deli moving into this space. There was newspaper covering the windows so it seems a build out has begun. I’ll be sure to monitor this spot to see if it becomes a deli or something else.

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IHOP, originally uploaded by Sikario.

When I first broke the news, in April, that IHOP was considering coming to DC USA in Columbia Heights there was a huge reaction – mostly positive. As I’ve received numerous inquiries from readers about the status – this should be some welcome news. A reader writes:

“I went to the Pleasant Plains Civic Association meeting this past Saturday, where the association’s president announced that IHOP signed something (letter of intent or lease or something) that ensures they’re coming to DCUSA!”

Oh yeah! And I’ve got more good news coming later this week…

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photo, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

Ever since Circle Boutique closed their doors at 1736 14th Street, NW I’ve been wondering what may go into that spot. Now keep in mind, whenever I use scuttlebutt in the title, it is just that, scuttlebutt. Rumor. Hearsay.  I did hear it from a very reliable source but I don’t believe anything is in stone at the moment.

Nevertheless, I’m pretty excited about this possibility. I’m hearing that Crepes-a-Go-Go may open up another location at this spot. They currently have a store at 2122 P Street, NW. You can see their menu here. Any fans? Think a crepe spot will work for this location on 14th near Logan Circle?

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Back in July I wrote that Habitat was moving into the space next door, formerly Moojoo Ken located at 1512 U Street, NW. But I had no idea what was going to move into Habitat’s old space at 1510 U Street, NW. A reader provides some salacious scuttlebutt:

“I was just in Habitat, the purse/ bag shop on U Street. It recently moved downstairs into Moojoo Ken’s old spot. I asked someone working there what was moving into their old spot and he said it would be a sex shop. He seemed to be an honest man, who struggled to find the appropriate English words to describe the shop to me.

While I often look at vacant spots on U Street and brainstorm what this area needs, sex shop has never been the top of my list. Guess I am a bit naive.”

Of course this is only scuttlebutt but I’m dying to hear what you guys think. So for the FQoTD – do you think a sex shop will be a good fit for U Street? Also, do you think the U Street neighborhood association (if there is one) will support or at least not fight a sex shop on U Street?

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I’ve been consistently getting emails about what possible retail is going into the new Solea building and View 14 building located at 14th and Florida Ave., NW. These are just rumors and not terrible exciting but I hear Solea is slated to get a new sign store and possibly will house a non profit.

Across the street at View 14 I heard some rumors of a gym going in but I hear that plan has stalled. Other than that I’ve heard of no deals signed yet. Anyone else hear any rumors?

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