Yes, the economy sucks. And locally that means plenty of empty retail storefronts. Most are in older buildings in which a former tenant has moved or closed. But some vacancies are in new construction. Like in DCUSA, the massive retail development located three blocks from Mount Pleasant.One of the original planned tenants was Whole Foods. That deal never materialized and later speculation focused on Ellwood Thompson's, a Richmond, VA heath food store. Then the signs went up. It was official, Ellwood Thompson's was opening a location in DCUSA: target date, winter 2009. That was immediately followed by the realization that the country was already in economic disarray, with many of the problems originating with real estate. So, the move to DC was put on hold. However the company was still spending money. They are paying the rent on the DCUSA space and over the last two years completed a huge expansion of the Richmond store including a stand alone coffee shop located across the parking lot from the store. (They have great vegan breakfast wraps by the way. And a Clover.)
I hope they make it here someday soon. Here's what you'd have to look forward to when and if they can make it happen. The location would be 15,000 sq feet of space in DCUSA on the first floor, directly under the Best Buy store. Elwoods would front on Irving Street and face the Highland Park building. It's unknown if they'd make room for the stand alone coffee shop, but perhaps it'd look like the last photo here. One can hope, right?
9 comments:
Damn - wish we could get local tofu in DC. The place looks amazing - raw (not oyster) bar, vegan friendly hot food. Frickin' awesome.
I've written them so many letters to persuade them to come up this way. Mayhaps one day they'll get the hint.
Cheers,
Binkles
They want to locate here. Just having money issues. They opened a second store in Richmond about --I dunno-- 8 or 9 years ago. The market wasn't there an it failed.
I understand the caution. That said, if they can get this store built, they will make money hand over fist.
BTW, the local tofu (I've been to the commune where they make is) is to DIE FOR. Especially the herb tofu.
I'm sure being right across the street from a homeless shelter isn't helping the situation.
la casa? they are being the best neighbor they can be. besides, all the other development has grown around it over the last five years. highland park, kenyon sq, new bell school, cvs, dcusa, etc.
and it's actually LESS busy around la casa since their transitional rehab program was moved off site, to spring road.
i think they are way down on the list of obstacles to bringing ellwoods to dc.
Every day I look over at that empty space with the sign in the window just to see if anything is going on in there.
Every day I'm disappointed.
If and when they ever get it going, it will be crowded as hell, we'll nitpick at the little things they don't carry, the help won't be as helpful as we wish they would be. And we will love that store passionately anyway.
Ugh...I want this store to come soooo badddd...
Yikes.
For one, I don't want homeless shelters shut down or displaced so we can have spiffy homeless-free retail spots.
And for two: only a total pansy would avoid going to a store because of a homeless shelter across the street.
Tim, thanks for the info on the tofu.
Local tofu, a Clover, vintage Aventinus, not a Whole Foods, damn this place would do so well in DC. They better get their game on.
Just get a Trader Joe's in there and be done with it already.
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