Book Store? Other Retailers?

chnews · Site Admin Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 35

What retailers would you like to see in Columbia Heights? We're already getting Target, Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond, Washington Sports Club, and other national retailers. We also have an upscale Giant and possibly a Whole Foods Market. What other kinds of retailers are you interested in?

I have not heard of plans for a bookstore. How about a Borders or Barnes and Nobles? Maybe a more local book retailer would be better like Olsson's. What are your thoughts?

If we can generate enough interest for a particular type of store, we can try to make a community push to developers.

Columbia Heights News

Thomas · Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Columbia Heights

I'd personally like to see a Trader Joes grocery store go into the space proposed for a Whole Foods, seeing that it is now unlikely Whole Foods will actually move in. Trader Joes might have an even more unique selection than Whole Foods in my opinion. I haven't been shop them much since moving into Washington from Old Town Alexandria back in the early-middle 90s, but I miss their stores, and would love to see them in our neighborhood. I think they would be a hit with the locals too. Here's a link to their website:

http://www.traderjoes.com/about/index.asp

They are definately worth persuing if the desire is to have another grocery store in that space.

Mr. T · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 902

Either Trader Joe's, or Whole Foods would be fine by me, but TJ's doesn't generally locate their stores in the heart of urban neighborhoods. Only recently have they dipped their toes in, near Union Square in NYC, and Boston, I think.
In DC, TJ's is planning a store in the old Columbia Hospital for Women in Foggy Bottom/West End. So, I don't think they'd open another store in Columbia Heights, unfortunately.
Maybe a Yes organic food market would be interested in DC USA?
And sure, I'd love to see a bookstore, of any stripe. Some kind of multi-lingual bookstore might do well, given the diversity of the neighborhood. I miss that old travel bookstore on Wisconsin Ave in Tenleytown, something like that would be great.

Bear · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 17

First, thanks for creating this forum. I hope it is useful to for generating debate about what is happening in the community.

I have been pretty disappointed with the retailers that are signed for the DC USA spot so far. It would be nice to have some smaller, more local retailers restaurants instead of big national chains. I agree that TJs would be perfect, even better than Whole Foods, but that is not likely to happen given TJ's preference for the suburbs.

Is there any point in lobbying DCCH to give Whole Foods the parking spaces they want?

As for retailers a book store would be great. Borders or Olssons.

How about a coffee shop with some outdoor seating?

A funky gift shop/home store like "Go Mama Go" or "Home Rule" in Logan Circle would also be great. But, part of me fears that the trend for Columbia heights is more "Pentagon City" than Logan Circle and the time for getting more creative locally owned retailers/eateries is past.

Mr. T · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 902

Anybody know when the Kudo Beans coffee bar is supposed to open in the Tivoli Theater building? Columbia Heights Coffee is great, but get crowded on the weekends and another coffee bar would be able to pick up the slack.

ashton_ebay · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

These are all great ideas. I'd also like to see a Blockbuster in the neighborhood. When I first moved to CH, Blockbuster had signs up in the windows of the Tivoli. But I guess the deal fell through.

Thanks for the new forum. The CH Listserv is the worst.

Lisa Simon · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 14 Location: New Hampshire Ave

BB was on their way, but I heard a 'hood rumor that they did a impact study and came to the conclusion that they wouldn't get much new business they'd only be taking away business from their existing stores in Adams' Morgan and Cleveland park. Which is probably true.

On my dream list is an independent movie rental place....which lots of egghead flicks and foreign movies. Dare to dream.

lisa

ashton_ebay · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

An independent movie place would be great. I lived at 18th and Columbia for a long time and found it more convenient alot of the time to rent from the indy place on the corner of 18th and Mintwood rather than wait in line at Blockbuster. If you haven't tried it out, it is a nice place with pretty good selection.

ben · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 10:14 am Post subject:

Speaking of indie stores, I would really like to see an independent, locally owned used book store. That would rock if one opened on 11th St.

That, and a quality vegetarian restaurant with a handmade veggie burger.

CMR · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:01 pm Post subject:

Seems to me like there are two separate questions with the DCUSA project:

(1) What "anchor" store will take the 35,000+ sq. ft. space that might be a Whole Foods? I've heard a lot of suggestions, but for the most part I would guess this would have to be a large-ish chain store to afford the lease on a space this size. Trader Joe's would be great, or I'd be all for a Whole Foods. What about a World Market or something of that nature? I hate to suggest it, but we're largely talking about esrtwhile strip mall tenants for a space this size. I guess Whole Foods would be my preference, to the extent that it's more than just a grocery (the restaurant- and coffee house-like aspects of it at least add another aspect to the project). Is there any chance this space would be subdivided for 2-3 smaller outlets if DCUSA can't find an ideal tenant?

More interestingly ...

(2) What smaller, independent, local businesses will fill the subsidized/below market spots in DCUSA? Does anyone know if there is an application process for these obviously plum spots and how they will be granted? What is the preference for these subsidized spots in selection -- minority ownership, local ownership, income level, etc.?? I am really curious, as I have been pretty disappointed to hear names like Radio Shack, Panda Express, and Casual Male in the mix as the "smaller stores" in DCUSA. I'd love to see another couple of local bars/restaurants. The thought of Ruby Tuesday's being joined by TGIFriday's is just too much.

BTW, I think Blockbuster's overall business model is shifting away from more physical outlets, especially in high-rent urban spaces. It's the Netflix and cable on-demand phenomena finally having an impact on the highway robbery of $4.35 in-store rentals. Blockbuster is much more pushing its online delivery service these days.

Mr. T · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 902

CMR · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject:

I should have done a little homework before my last post ... from information on this very site, it appears that there are currently 14 applicants for the street-level subsidized spots at DCUSA. Unfortunately, it seems the chain store mindset is strong -- among the applications are those from the Quizno's franchisee. Indeed, Quizno's is already one of the spots penciled in on the plans, so I assume some of the decisions have been made. Seems like, rather than indie businesses, we're going to get strip mall city at DCUSA. Not a surprise, really, but eyes on 11th Street (or Mt. Pleasant) if you're looking for indie.

The Washington Business Journal piece says 15,000 sq. feet of space are set-aside for "minority" businesses. Is this truly just a race-based consideration? Anyone know?

(BTW, having read Fast Food Nation and knowing the crummy treatment franchisees often get, this is nothing against the Quizno's franchisee. It just seems like the few DCUSA spaces that might have wound up as Waffle Shop-like businesses and benefited from the extra business coming off all the foot traffic from the Target, etc. are going to look more like a mall food court as opposed to truly local institutions.)

SeanonMonroe · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Monroe St

For me, a book store is the store I'm most interested in that doesn't appear in the plans. Big, small, used, new...it doesn't matter to me. Since I work outside DC, however, one that has long hours would fit my shopping patterns best.

Other than a book store, with that much space a clothing store would be another good option, especially one with Sunday hours. Hecht's is one of the only options for Sunday shopping other than some of the boutiques.

-- Sean

peter · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Columbia Heights!

A bookstore would be ideal. My wife has said if we got a good bookstore (Borders/BN type, not Walden/B Dalton), she'd never have to leave CH again.

Mr. T · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 902

I really liked that now-defunct travel & language bookstore on Wisconsin Avenue in Tenleytown, but something along the lines of an Olsson's or Politics & Prose would be nice, too.