Tag Archives: Restaurants

8:30am on the 400 Block of Barracks Row, Tuesday, May 13

Steve Salis at ANC6B Meeting, Tuesday Night

ANC6B Gives & Pizza on Barracks Row a Second Chance

Neighbors Unconvinced by Owner’s Maneuver

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday night, an earnest Steve Salis, owner of &Pizza, breathed new life into his moribund request for a fast food exception to open a pizza place on Barrack Row.  Salis appeared before ANC6B with a new proposal calculated to head off what appeared to be certain rejection of the exception.  He announced that to allay the primary concerns of his 7^th Street residential neighbors across the back fence, he had asked for a one month delay in consideration of his case by the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA).  Salis said he has applied for a variance that would allow him to build an enclosure attached to the proposed restaurant for indoor trash storage, and dispose of stored trash by moving it out to 8^th Street. He said he would make the application for the exception contingent on approval of the variance and that the delay would allow parties to look at his new proposed solution through an “unbiased lens”.

If the delay is granted, Salis would come back before the ANC on June 10, to present the case for the variance and the request for the exception – to be considered as a package – with the request for the exception  contingent on approval of the variance.  Such an offer appeared to some observers to indicate Salis’ confidence that he can get BZA approval of the variance.

Neighbors were having none of it.  They say that the new proposal is where Salis should have started at a meeting with them in April – rather than stonewalling them then and coming in with a proposal 24 hours before Tuesday night’s meeting.  Neighbor after neighbor arose to ask ANC6B to oppose the application, citing their underlying concerns that an additional fast food restaurant on the 400 block of Barracks Row will increase the rodent, trash, noise and odor issues.  For several neighbors, the trustworthiness of the applicant was at issue.  Salis allegedly told neighbors that with the exception of a couple of DPW warnings because homeless people were dumpster diving in the alley at the H Street &Pizza, he had no violations from either agency.

In response to the claim, neighbors produced evidence of 23 Department of Health violations at the H Street &Pizza between May 23, 2013 and April 15, 2014.  According to InspectionMapper (a website that tracks restaurants and grades them according to number of violations) as of mid-April, H Street &Pizza received an “F” for the accumulation of violations. At that time, InspectionMapper said, 25% of restaurants were rated “A”, 21% “B”, 22% “C”, 16% “D”, and 16% “F”.  Neighbors say the infractions show that Salas has not demonstrated the attention to detail necessary to address their concerns.

Apparently reflecting concern of the neighbors and underlining the need for a comprehensive approach to the rodent problem in the immediate area, Commissioner Ivan  Frishberg told Salis that he expected a good “chunk” of his product would end up being consumed on 8th Street or in Metro Plaza.  Salis agreed and acknowledged a systemic rat problem, but said that he can only control his space and his operation.

Frishberg expressed his concerns regarding the block’s rodent problem in an email to his constituents earlier this week, saying, “If we do not set the highest standard for current and future operators on these densely populated blocks we will only be adding to the problems of rats that are running rampant in backyards, across the metro plaza and all around the restaurants most of us frequent.”

In the end, ANC6B voted 8-0-2, to oppose the application, but added language addressed to the BZA acknowledging that the applicant has requested a delay and encouraging a delay in order to provide an opportunity for the issue to be resolved by negotiation between the restaurateur and neighbors and allowing ANC6B to consider the fast food exception and the variance at the same time.

Those commissioners voting for the delay:  Peish, Frishberg, Pate, Campbell, Garrison, Oldenburg, Opkins, and Loveland.

Those commissioners abstaining:  Flahaven and Jayaraman

(Flahaven said he abstained because he wanted to see a compromise.  Jayaraman said he did not want to say he was opposed to &Pizza on Barracks Row while there was an opportunity to see if the strategy Salis is proposing works better than what other restaurants are doing.)

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&pizza Looks Again to Barracks Row for New Gourmet Pizza Outlet

by Larry Janezich

Last Tuesday night at Hill Center, &pizza chain owner Steve Salis told ANC6B that he hopes to open a sixth location at 405 8^th Street, SE, the current location of OXXO cleaners.  Veteran readers of Capitol Hill Corner will remember that Salis flirted with Barracks Row in 2011/2012, when he announced plans to open in the space at 415 8^th Street, currently occupied by Chipotle/Kraze Burger.

Salis is again reaching out to engage ANC6B, Barracks Row Main Street, and the community, saying he will apply for a fast food exception which will allow him to open up on Barracks Row.

Barracks Row zoning requires a special exception for fast food restaurants.  &pizza falls into the fast food category because you have to pay for the food in advance, even though inside seating will be provided.  Zoning regulations provide some 15 or requirements an applicant must meet in order to qualify for an exception.  The request will come before ANC6B, likely next summer and approval by that body will send the request to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for final approval.

The issue is a sensitive one for nearby neighbors who have been vigilant in policing food venues on the 400 block of 8^th Street because of operational issues contributing to rodent and odor problems.  Salis said he is aware of these concerns and is prepared to address them.

In February of 2012, Salis said he pulled the plug on the Barracks Row project after it became clear to him that he could not launch the business according to schedule in spring of that year.  He cited the uncertainty involved in getting a fast food exception – even though the Capitol Hill Restoration Society had already signed off on it – and uncertainty as to when Streetsense could deliver the store space.  In addition, Streetsense had asked Salis to “put down a substantial amount of capital as a deposit in order to hold the space.”  He said he found his position untenable being faced with “a bad use of my capital and no guarantees” on how the process would be resolved.

&pizza’s website and menu can be found here:  http://www.andpizza.com/

Cafe Old Town’s Sign is not up yet, but the former Capitol City Sub Shop is open for business

Kimchi Outlet Debuts on Barracks Row

One of “World’s Healthiest Foods” – Health Magazine

by Larry Janezich

The popular Alexandria carryout Café Old Town has opened a second location on the end of Barracks Row in the space formerly occupied by Capitol City Subs at 751 8^th Street, SE.  Owner Cristina Kwon leased the building last summer and remodeled it.  The Barracks Row location is primarily carry out, but does have limited seating for inside dining.

What makes this place special are the Korean Specialties – particularly the imaginative kimchi tacos (with gluten free corn tortillas), kimchi burritos, and kimchi quesadillas – all with the customer’s choice of marinated rib eye steak (bulgogi), spicy pork, or grilled chicken.  For the uninitiated, kimchi is a traditional spicy fermented Korean side dish made of vegetables with a variety of seasonings.

Kimchi has acquired its reputation as a health food because it is low in calories and contains a high concentration of dietary fiber.  One serving is said to provide over 50% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C and carotene.  In February, 2008, Health Magazine named kimchi as one of the “World’s Healthiest Foods” for being rich in vitamins, aiding digestion, and even possibly reducing cancer growth.  Kimchi is rich in vitamin A, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), calcium, and iron, and contains a number of lactic acid bacteria, among those the “healthy” species Lactobacillus found in yogurt.

Other Korean specialties on the menu include Bibimbap – lettuce, eggs, carrots, cucumbers, squash, bean sprouts, red cabbage and bulgogi, and the Bulgogi Burger – green peppers and onion with provolone cheese, bulgogi, and Korean hot sauce.

Sandwiches such as the California Club, the Turkey Avocado Wrap, the BBQ Sub with slaw and the Reuben with corned beef and/or pastrami have been popular choices at Café Old Town Alexandria, according to owner and chef Kwon.  The traditional breakfast menu features a Tomato and Fresh Lime Burrito.

The shop is open 6:00am – 6:00pm, Monday through Friday and 8:00am – 5:00pm on Saturday.  Closed Sunday.  202- 546-7827

Tandoor Grill Wants to Move to a New Second Story and Lease First Floor to Potbelly

Pot Belly Sandwich Shop Seeks Barracks Row Location

by Larry Janezich

A plan for opening a Pot Belly Sandwich Shop on Barracks Row was revealed at last night’s ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee meeting.

Consideration of two cases by the Committee, chaired by Commissioner Francis Campbell, revealed Pot Belly’s interest in expanding onto Barracks Row.  The chain restaurant serves sandwiches, salads, soups, chili, shakes, malts, smoothies and baked goods, and has several outlets in Northwest and one near the Navy Yard in SE.  Since its founding in 1997, the chain has spread to more than 280 locations.

One of the cases which touched upon Pot Belly’s interest was that of the Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill at 419 8^th Street, which is seeking ANC6B’s approval for a Historic Preservation (HP) application to permit a second story addition to the restaurant.  Tariq Hussein, owner of both the building and the restaurant, presented the plan in terms of expansion of the Indian-Pakistani restaurant.  Commissioner Ivan Frishberg – who admitted to being a frequent patron of the restaurant – expressed reservations, saying he suspected that the addition anticipated another purpose and expressed concern that it might be for a fast food restaurant.

Barracks Row currently has a ban on fast food venues – any additional establishment would require an exemption.  Hussein said that although he had had discussions with Pot Belly as a potential first floor tenant, no agreement had been reached.  Given the city’s tendency to give the benefit of the doubt to revenue-producing developments at the expense of the nearby community, ANC6B seems justified in its concern that the city will turn a deaf ear to their concerns.

As of now, the only issue before the ANC is whether or not the proposed design for the addition is compatible with the adjacent buildings and the architectural environment.  Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg read notes from the CHRS Historic Preservation (HP) Committee which met on Monday night to consider Hussein’s Historic Preservation Application.  The HP Committee – which under CHRS bylaws speaks for the CHRS on historic preservation matters – found that the original structure is too new to be a contributing structure to the Capitol Hill Historic District and expressed the wish that the architect refine the design and be more adventurous and creative in planning the addition.  This finding actually gives the architect considerable flexibility in designing the second story – it also means that there are few historic preservation roadblocks which can be raised to prevent it.  The ANC’s Planning and Zoning Committee voted to take no position on the HP application, pending receipt of more detailed drawings from Hussein before next Tuesday’s full ANC6B meeting.

Pot Belly’s interest in Barracks Row came to light as well in an earlier case heard by the ANC last night.  Maurice Kreindler – who owns several buildings in the 400 block of 8^th Street – is seeking to build an enclosure at the rear of OXXO Dry Cleaners – ostensibly for storage.  Since OXXO’s lease is up in two years, building out the rear of the building could be a way to make it more interesting to potential tenants.  When neighbors expressed concerns that a new tenant might be yet another restaurant, Alan Kinney, representing Kreindler, said a new tenant would likely be retail and noted that Pot Belly Sandwich Shop had looked at the location for a possible establishment, but found it lacked the necessary space.  The ANC Committee told Kinney that they could not support the request for a variance to allow the construction because the property lacked the unique circumstances under which a variance can be granted.

Also last night, several residential and business neighbors were in attendance to cite trash and cleanliness problems associated with the area where Kreindler seeks the expansion, voicing fears that new construction would push the rat problems associated with the area onto their properties.  Commissioners pointed out that these were two separate issues, and while the rat problem was ubiquitous and needed to be addressed, it had to be considered separately from the question of granting a variance.  To the extent that the two issues are related, some commissioners told Kinney that they might try to find a way to support the variance if a proposed structure could be used to solve the neighbor’s concerns regarding the rodent problem.