Monthly Archives: August 2013

Pret A Manger To Replace Cosi at 3^rd and Pennsylvania Avenue in Spring, 2014

Douglas Development Increases Capitol Hill Stakes

by Larry Janezich

Pret A Manger is scheduled to open next spring in the space now occupied by Cosi at 3^rd and PA Avenue, SE.  The high-end sandwich shop will offer sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit, wraps, soups, baguettes,  as well as pastries, bagels, muffins and hot oatmeal.

From their website:  “We make our stuff fresh so we can sell it fresh (it’s old fashioned but works well).  We donate our sandwiches to charity instead of keeping them over to sell the next day.  Because we make our food by hand in each store throughout the day, you won’t find “shelf life” dates and “display until” messages on our salads and sandwiches.  We simply don’t need to sell old food.”

Their menu can be viewed here:  http://www.pret.com/us/menu/

The announcement came today from Douglas Development.  According to a press release, the development company leased the building and will occupy 4,300 square feet and offer two floors of indoor dining space as well as the outside patio.  London-based Pret A Manger has numerous east coast locations in NYC, Chicago and Boston, including seven in DC.

The move will increase Douglas Development’s stakes on Capitol Hill.  The company is developing the 13,081 square foot retail building at 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, formerly occupied by Kentucky Fried Chicken.  That project (which has apparently changed its identity from residential, to mixed use, to its latest incarnation – solely retail) will feature a green roof.

Douglas Development will make a presentation on its plans for the two properties at the September 10 meeting of ANC6b at 7:00pm in Hill Center.  More details on the two projects will likely be available at that time.

Congressman John Lewis to Open “A Day Like No Other” March on Washington Photo Exhibition, Aug. 28

Library to Present Additional One-Day Display of Treasured Holdings from March

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who was a young civil-rights leader in 1963, will open the photo exhibition “A Day Like No Other: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington” at the Library of Congress on Aug. 28.

The Library will present an additional one-day display of treasured documents and materials related to the March on Washington, including a copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech submitted for copyright registration on Oct. 2, 1963.

Lewis will speak at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28 in the Great Hall on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets and reservations are not needed.

The display, which is also free and open to the public, will be on view from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28 in the Coolidge Auditorium Foyer and in the Whittall Pavilion on the ground level of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.

The Library’s photo exhibition “A Day Like No Other” features 40 black-and-white photographs from newspaper and other media photographers, independent photojournalists and people who participated in the march on Aug. 28, 1963. The images represent the cross-section of individuals who attended the largest nonviolent demonstration for civil rights that America had ever witnessed. The exhibit conveys the immediacy of being at the march and the palpable excitement of those who were there. A video screen in the exhibit will show an additional 58 photos.

The photo exhibition is located in the Graphic Arts Galleries on the ground level of the Jefferson Building. It is free and open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and will run through March 1, 2014.

More information here:  http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2013/13-153.html?loclr=rssloc

When One Door Closes…

…Another One Opens

MotoPhoto To Relocate Above Labyrinth Game Shop

Survives Turnover as Displacement of Capitol Hill Retail Continues

by Larry Janezich

As the displacement of Capitol Hill retail by food and drink establishments continues, MotoPhoto and Sprint follow The Blue Iris, the Capitol Hill Frame Shop, Backstage, The Dollar Store and Yes! as the latest victims of the trend toward the higher rents that fast food and high end-eateries can afford.

Having had their month-to-month lease terminated by Stanton Development to make way for the new Sona Creamery and Wine Bar opening this fall at 7^th and PA Avenue (as reported on July 10 below), MotoPhoto will relocate directly across Pennsylvania Avenue to the second floor space above the Labyrinth Game Shop.

Owner Stuart Hovell says he would prefer to be where he is, but settled on the move across the street after a potential deal to move to the building which formerly housed The Village next to Port City Java fell through.

Hovell says the space above Labyrinth is slightly larger and the interior more open.  He expects to run the same operation with more emphasis on custom framing.  Most of his business, he says, comes from printing – photos and enlargements.  The shop will continue to offer passport photo services.  Hovell says he shoots 20-30 passport photos a day – many of them for Canadian passports, as his shop is one of five in the area approved by the highly particular Canadian Embassy.

MotoPhoto will move its operation this coming weekend and expects to reopen September 3, in its new location.  Meanwhile, in the interests of simplifying the move, everything in the current location is 25% off.

Sprint, in the space adjacent to the current MotoPhoto location, is reported to be distributing its stock and services to existing Sprint outlets rather than relocating on Capitol Hill.

The Approach to the Lincoln Memorial from Smithsonian Metro Stop Required Negotiating the WWII Memorial

The WWII Memorial Water Feature at About 12:45pm

North Side of the Reflecting Pool About 1:00pm

From the Loud Speakers: “Today We Celebrate. Tomorrow We Agitate.”

Beginning of the March from the Lincoln Memorial to the Martin Luther King Memorial…

…Lead by Rev. Joseph Lowrey (in wheelchair) the Oldest Surviving Leader of the Non-Violent Demonstrations of the 1950s and 1960s – Chief Organizer of the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965.

Tens of Thousands

The Week Ahead…ANC6b Committees Meet – Frager’s Fundraiser Thursday – And Photo Essay from Saturday’s March on Washington

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, August 27

ANC6b Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the September 10 meeting of the full ANC.

Wednesday, August 28

ANC6b Transportation Committee meets at 6:30pm in Hill Center.

Thursday, August 29

ANC6b Alcohol Beverage Control Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

Thursday, August 29

American Legion Post 8 hosts fundraiser for Friends of Frager’s featuring food, music, activities for children and a cash bar.  Proceeds from the event will be donated to Friends of Frager’s through the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.

The Smith Team realtors and other local business are donating money and food. The suggested donation will be $10, with no charge for children under 10 accompanied by their parents.

The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. and live music will start at 6:00 pm, with four bands that feature Capitol Hill artists playing a variety of musical styles. The lineup is:

6 p.m. – The Captones – jazz

7 p.m. – The Side Dish – acoustic/rock

8:15 p.m. – The Truck Farmers – Americana/country

9:30 p.m. – Free Lobster Buffet – ska/reggae

American Legion Post 8 is located at 3rd and D Streets Southeast, one block from the Capitol South Metro station.

H street Country Club Wants to Extend Roof Deck Hours To 2:30 AM on Friday and Saturday

Would XII’s Sky Bar – Already the Focus of Noise Complaints – Be Far Behind?

Committee Approves Restaurant Liquor License for Chupacabra

H Street Restaurateurs Push ANC for Late Hour Rooftop Decks/More Public Space Flexibility

Joe Englert Says Current Restrictions Are “Unfair”

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday night, ANC6a’s Alcohol Beverage Control Committee, chaired by Commissioner Jay Williams, heard appeals from H restaurateurs Joe Englert and others to allow later operating hours on rooftop decks and in public space.  Currently, the ANC policy limits hours to 11 pm on weekdays and 12 am on weekends on H Street, NE, rooftop decks, patios and sidewalk cafes.

Englert, who owns food and drink establishments across the city and who was one of the early founders of restaurants on H Street, is asking the ANC to allow him to operate roof decks at H Street Country Club, 1335 H Street, NE; Vendetta, 1220  H Street, NE; and the Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H Street, NE, until 12 am on Thursday and 2:30am on Friday and Saturday.

Englert’s requests were supported by other H Street restaurateurs including Phil Peters of Smith Commons at 1245 H Street, NE, and Sarosh Hussain of Cusbah at 12th and H.  Cusbah, is currently the only restaurant on H Street operating on its patio/sidewalk café until 3 am – allowed by a previous license agreement which is now up for renewal.  The ANC is protesting renewal of Cusbah’s liquor license to bring Cusbah into line with its policy governing other H Street patios.

Englert’s justification for his request to extend operating hours for his rooftop decks is that “other establishments operate later” – both on H Street and elsewhere in the city – and earlier hours for H Street is not only “unfair,” but puts his places at a competitive disadvantage.

Jason Martin, owner of Sticky Rice, Dangerously Delicious Pies, as well as a piece of the Rock & Roll Hotel, is requesting a new tavern license for his Tacqueria Chupacabra at 822 H Street, NE (which actually is well down the north side of 9th Street adjacent to a residential area).  The taco place which seats six inside, wants to serve beer and frozen margaritas both at the six stools inside and at the picnic tables seating to up to 60 patrons in the large public space outside the restaurant.  His request is being supported by the other restaurateurs.  The former taco food truck operation which morphed into the brick and mortar carryout sells food so cheaply – according to Martin ($3 tacos) – that its survival without a liquor license is questionable.  And, he claims, since it would be hard for him to meet the 40% of revenue from food sales required by a restaurant license, he wants a tavern permit which has no percentage requirement.

In general, the restaurateurs made the case that they must have greater flexibility to compete or survive, and if the ANC doesn’t work with them to prevent the situation from getting “out of control like Adams Morgan and U Street,” and if the ANC continues to “nitpick everything” the city’s desire for development and revenue will provide a win for the business operators in the end.  They warn that with the coming of the trolley cars and new venues like Ben’s Chili Bowl – scheduled to open early next year at 10^th and H Streets, NE, the businesses, community, and ANC need to work together to address potential problems now or face a bigger issue a few years from now.

Commissioner Williams’ response was that the ANC has a standard Settlement Agreement on its website, and business operators know what they are getting into when they open up on H Street, saying that uniformity of standards provides for predictability.  He noted that it is generally the policy of the ANC to discourage tavern licenses in favor of the more restrictive restaurant licenses to reassure neighbors and to insure that some food is being served.

Residents who attended expressed concerns about the impact of granting greater operating flexibility to the business owners.  Chupacabra adjoins residences and has little support from those residents for late night drinking in public space according to one representative of those neighbors.  Another neighbor representative expressed concern about noise issues associated with operating late night rooftop decks and with patrons filtering through the neighborhoods in the early morning hours.

In the end, the ANC Committee voted to recommend a restaurant liquor license for Chupacabra, William’s announced that the discussion of the request for expanded hours for rooftop decks would carry over to the September when a broader conversation with more participants can occur. The owner of Cusbah stated that he was willing to compromise on his request for late hour operation of his patio and would seek a further meeting with Commissioners.  Separately, the Committee voted to protest a request from Sarah at 1200 H Street to add an entertainment endorsement/dancing and cover charge to its license.  These recommendations will go to the full ANC at its September 12 meeting at 7 pm at the Sherwood Recreation Center, 10^th and G.

The Week Ahead…..Fund Raiser for SE Library at Chipotle – H Street Liquor License Issues

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, August 20

Chipotle partners with DC Public Library Foundation to raise funds for South East Library.  Chipotle has offered to host in-store fundraisers at most of its D.C. locations from 5 – 8 PM and will donate 50 percent of the proceeds from that evening’s sales to the DC Public Library Foundation, designated for the neighborhood library nearest the Chipotle restaurant.  Below is the flyer which will need to be presented in order for the proceeds to go to Southeast Library.

Chipotle – Southeast Full-Size (1)

BTW – this is an original Carnegie Library – their website is  http://www.dclibrary.org/southeast – check it out for the latest on programs for children.

Tuesday, August 20

ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm in Sherwood Recreation Center at 10^th and G Streets, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Update on Cusbah, 1128 H Street, NE , protest hearing

Request by Sahra, 1200 H Street, NE, to add an entertainment endorsement/dancing and cover charge to license.  (Some neighbors have concerns regarding noise.)

New license for Chupacabra, 822 H Street, NE, and request for stipulated license

And…three of H Street developer Joe Englert’s restaraunts are asking to extend their rooftop deck hours beyond 11:00pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends:   H street Country Club at1335 H Street, NE; Vendetta at 1220-1212 H Street, NE; and rock and Roll Hotel at 1353 H Street, NE.  (Could be an issue for nearby neighbors.)

Wednesday, August 21

ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm at Sherwood Recreation Center at 10^th and G Streets, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

A report on vacant properties (DCRA is moving to inspect and cite vacant house owners in neighboring ANC6B)

H Street Business Liaison Report

Three cases which appear to be routine regarding zoning relief, variances, and historical preservation issues.

FRANKS PLACE

Frank Setting Up

Hats, T-Shirts, Sunglasses

Making a Sale

“Another Level – The Village is Talkin” features the drumming of Frank Lloyd. $15 at Franks Place

Frank Lloyd, Vendor and Percussionist

Franks Place

One of the First Capitol Hill Neighborhood Vendors

by Larry Janezich

Frank Lloyd has stationed his business on the corner of 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, since 1984, selling sunglasses, hats, t-shirts and other merchandise to passersby.  “I first set up on Metro Plaza,” he says, but “they moved me over here.”  “Over here” is the sidewalk next to CVS where he sets up five or six days a week.  He says his best-selling items are sunglasses and t-shirts. 

Lloyd took over the business from his older brother, who moved on to a career in real estate in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Lloyd recalls the early eighties, when there were not many vendors or wholesalers in DC and he had to drive to New York for merchandise every couple of weeks.  “The 80s and 90s,” he says, “were the good old days because of the economy – money was flowing a lot better.”  Lloyd was born in DC and grew up in Barry Farm in Anacostia – a neighborhood named for its origins as part of the farm owned by James Barry in the mid-19th century. 

While vending is Lloyd’s livelihood, drumming is his passion.  Asked to account for his interest in the drums, he recalls the local groups that played in Anacostia Park in the 70s.  Walking back from one of these events, “I saw a guy playing three congas and that inspired me.”  At first self-taught, Lloyd later trained with the Andrew Cacho African Drummers and Dancers, a group founded in the early 70s which taught African Dance and Drumming to youths at Friendship House and later at a location on 8^th Street.  After that, Lloyd was mentored by Baba Ngoma – “Father Drum” – a legendary drum master. 

Though he plays professionally only rarely, he has sat in with local jazz artist Wayne Davis.  Lloyd sells a CD at his stand which features his work on conga, bongo, and djembe drums.  Titled, “Another Level. The Village is Talkin,’” the CD is the result of collaboration among local jazz artists Izyez, Aaron J., Lawrence Williams, and Denyse Pearson AKA Lighthouse.  The music featured on the CD is accessible and carefully considered.  The artists use drums, spoken word, vocals, and instrumentals to explore themes of black community, self-sufficiency, spirituality, pride and, most prominently, the importance of history.  “The Village is Talkin’” is priced at $15.