DC USA has proved that mass consumerism can be wrapped in veil of renewal and revitalization and be passed off as legit. The "build it and they will come strategy" worked. Or maybe the neighborhood was starving for access to amenities like Target and other stores heretofore found in locations not accessible without leaving the city. Regardless of your take on the development, know that it will have a dramatic impact on Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights.Some of the larger tenants are opening their doors soon. The electronic retailer Best Buy will be opening the night of March 27th, a Thursday. Marshall's, the self-described "off-price" retailer, opens tomorrow, the 20th. Bed Bath and Beyond is rumored to open before the end of March and Radio Shack looks to open soon as well. Columbia Heights News reports that talks to bring Ellwood Thompson's and REI to DC USA are ongoing. ET is a natural foods grocer with one location in Richmond, REI is an outdoors/sports retailer.
The big question is.... When will Vitamin Shoppe open!? Yes, nothing says successful retail development like Vitamin Shoppe. And nothing says Colonial Williamsburg like adding that "-pe" to the end of the word "shop." What, "apothecary" was taken? Shoppie. I'm going to pronounce it that way from now on; Shoppie. Vitamin Shoppe is a very successful supplements and vitamin dealer. I don't mean to demean the business model or employees; its just I can't get excited at all about having the Vitamin Shoppe at such a prominent corner. Its like GNC. Let's be honest, when you lived at home and went to the mall to hang out, you never saw anyone shopping at GNC, did you. No. Didn't you wonder how they stayed in business? I did. I still do. I guess Vitamin Shoppie has figured it out. Build it, and they will come...
