Our last report on the saga of the "Ledo Building" at
433 Mass was that the city notified to the owners that the building
would be demolished if it remained unsecured. It turns out this has closed the chapter on the Spriggs family as the bank has sold the property out from underneath them.
No details yet on the identity of the new owner or their plans for the property.
In other news on old buildings in the Triangle, the old
High G Paint building located at
924 Fifth Street NW has been sold. This 3 level structure lies within the Mount Vernon Triangle
Historic District.
The new owner of this property is interested in placing retail on the ground floor and has approached the MVT CID for suggestions. What type of tenant for this
1300 1650 SF space, that is just steps away from 5th and K, would both flourish and complement the existing uses in the neighborhood? Suggestions I heard at the
MVT Marketing Committee meeting included a chocolate bar like
ACKC, or a housewares store like
Home Rule. What are your thoughts? Keep in mind the size constraints of the space.
55 comments:
I still vote for a nail salon/spa
Small pet store
Indian food
Tavern with Middle Eastern food and pastries. Hookah Bar, DJ, dancing with cover charges.
Nail salon or pet store are much, much needed.
I think the hookah bar with DJ concept is being debated up the street.
Ya, but how will a pet store or nail salon help compliment all of the restaurants and the hotel and the jazz bar that are planned for the area? I think something that will add some character to the block (that is very much empty), compliment the additions to the area and provide some history to the space.
We have residents that need these services. That is how a nail salon and pet store will compliment the additions to the area. Since this building is below residential units, it is important that the business be compatible with that. And it is a small space. Perfect for a service or service retail.
I know my girlfriend and her friends would vote for a nail salon / spa.
A chocolate bar? I didn't realize the MVT CID was made up of 7 year olds. How about a neighborhood bar? Something simple, inexpensive, where locals can meet up and talk about what a disaster Buddha bar is going to be.
I love/crave chocolate. Didn't know that only children consumed it.
I think we have plenty of places to eat and drink. Let's get some needed services in place. Especially given the location. The women in the neighborhood really are craving a nail place. And there is no location to buy premium dog food. I agree with the spa and pet store ideas.
my wife is dying for a nail place/salon
Nail Salon for sure. The small space is perfect, and there are PLENTY of women living in and around the neighborhood in all the condo buildings. The neighborhood and DC in general are in need of reasonably priced walk-in nail places. As the Triangle evolves into a residential neighborhood we need establishments like this.
Three-quarters of these women dying for a salon would try the new place once, decide it's not as good as where they are currently going, and never return. My wife has tried places closer to our condo but still always goes to back to Tysons Corner.
My vote is for pet store. Pet owners would give feedback to the store owner on how to improve their offerings not just instantly write off the place.
Ah -- poor misguided man. We are talking mostly about a walk-in nail salon without hair services. These are chosen typically by convenience and low cost. The space is perfect and would be an instant hit in the community. I know for a fact that the women at 555 have, as a group, gone to nail places outside of the neighborhood. This would definitely be a place that would serve the residents and be much appreciated. You are correct, though, we are much more picky about hair.
Both a pet store and a nail salon would provide much needed services to the area and both would do very well.
But has anyone ever bought a condo due to proximity to a nail salon? The appearance of being a pet friendly neighborhood on the other hand, I think would add both practical and financial value to the area.
I have heard from a reliable source that, "Penn Quarter continues to improve and is clearly the best retail market in town. I saw a retail broker's list of tenants in the market and nearly all of the DC tenants were focused on Chinatown/Penn Quarter. Also of note, Buddha Bar started construction today and hopes to open in March. One more tidbit: the house next to the Dumont was recently sold at auction and the new owners reportedly are seeking to open an establishment that 'compliments Buddha Bar'."
I don't think the restaurant/bar option works well for the ground floor at 924 Fifth Street. Low ceiling, no existing ventilation hookup, 5th sidewalk not wide enough to accommodate seating. Plus a kitchen and two bathrooms would eat a big chunk out of that 1650 SF. Service oriented retail makes a little more sense.
Uh, what is the obsession with fingernails?!? Geez...do your own nails! Of all the great venues/businesses that we could bring to our neighborhood, a boring nail salon is not at the top of my list. I'm not a pet owner and don't much care for a pet store either, but I could live with one being there. Something needs to go in there, which will appeal to the MASSES and also drive those drunks & alchoholics from that adjacent building & corner. I know this will be difficult with the liquor store right there, but I don't think a nail salon would quite do the job. Coffeehouse/dessert bar gets my vote.
Gourmet butcher or artisan bakery
I like the chocolate/coffee lounge idea. I also know that the Gibson (bar/lounge) has become really popular as a neighborhood spot in the U Street area and could see it succesful here.
Gourmet Butcher/Artisan Bakery would be great. Safeway really struggles to keep it's Meat/Seafood Counter stocked. They didn't have a single package of chicken breasts on Sunday... How does that happen?
This is not a practical place for a bar/lounge. If you look at the picture, the storefront is only a few feet away from residential windows (and bedroom windows at that). There is no way that a use like that would not cause a lot of unnecessary controversy. There are better spots for that use in the neighborhood than in between two residential buildings (yes -- the Cavalry Women's Shelter is on the other side).
Where I used to live, the neighborhood nail salon was a total gathering spot for the neighborhood women (and some men). It was always packed and the conversations that took place there were hilarious. There are ways to gather in a neighborhood that don't always include alcohol. Yes -- we MVT women NEED a place for our manis and pedis where we can hang with the neighborhood women.
I love the nail salon idea. Something else that would be good would be bike shop, don't have one in the vacinity.
Re: Bike Shop
The future "Arts at 5th & Eye" development across the street has a Bike Shop tenant lined up. Of course who the heck knows how many years that will take to materialize. Fifth Street Ace Hardware presently has a bike clinic every Saturday morning.
While I think we could support a full scale bike shop NOW, the current presence of Ace and the impending arrival of a bike shop at 5th & Eye might be enough to deter an cycling entrepreneur from selecting this site.
I do think the neighborhood could stand to use a good nail salon. My wife has to go to other parts of the city to get her nails done because the places nearby (6th and H and 8th and D, I believe) don't appear to be nice or sanitary. You put a clean nail salon in the area and you'll have lots of customers--not just residents, but also lots of workers from GAO and other nearby buildings. As much as I would like a chocolate shop, butcher, or bakery, a nail salon makes more sense for now and fits either of these vacant spots better.
I vote for a pizzeria that sells giant slice pizza. That street corner, with Louie's the Rogue, a liquor store and a woman's shelter is dying for quick food that can be eaten while walking around, socializing and not doing anything value added.
You have convinced me that a nail salon would be supported. Even men are chiming in saying it's a much needed addition.
Still, this is one of the few historic buildings with character in the neighborhood and it's at THE focal corner of our neighborhood. So I still prefer a choice that contributes to neighborhood identity more. The comment that a pet store would help increase our neighborhood's profile as being pet friendly resonated with me (and I don't even own a pet). I think my fave choices among the realistic ones discussed are pet store and chocolate shop/cafe.
Keep in mind the 425 Eye Street Office building being renovated will have 29,000 SF of retail space along the quieter streets of Eye and Fourth. If I was playing Sim City I'd place the Nail Salon there. Of course ultimately all this is up to the landlords...
The ladies at the shelter are just fine. The problem is the guys from the AA meeting. Why do they have to hang out all day on our block? It would be different if they actually lived nearby.
Let's just make sure that it is both something we need and something that is compatible with neighboring uses. Having the hardware store, the grocery store, the gym and the bank have improved my life much more than the nearby restaurants (which I love of course). We have lots of entertainment. Let's get something like a pet, bike or nail shop that can keep our dollars in the 'hood since those are things we don't have and those are businesses that are compatible.
The building is in the middle of the block. Not on the corner.
>>"The building is in the middle of the block. Not on the corner."
You're using a very narrow definition of corner. If I can trust Google Maps measurements this building is < 100 ft from the entrance of Subway Liquors II which is on the corner. In contrast it's ~250 feet to Eye Street to the south.
To me a building with an entrance that's only around ~100 feet from the corner still contributes to the corner's sense of place. Similarly I'd say the Papa Johns or Tunnel Liquors are at 4th and Mass. But to each his (or her) own...
We need something that appeals to the fast growing gay lesbian community in this neighborhood. We hope that in 5 years to make this more like Dupont. Nails would be good for all women and gay men but what about something more gay focused.......
how about a gift/card shop or Papyrus/Paper Source like store?
our surrounding area does not have a place where you can get either of those category of items of any real caliber. the Paper Source is the only store I really go to Georgetown for because there is nothing on our side of 16th Street I know of like it. the ladies might like a MAC or a Sephora but I don't think that location will work for those stores.
I would LOVE to see a nail salon go in. I hate having to drive all the way to Tysons or out to Georgetown to get a simple pedicure. I also like the idea of a coffee shop or a pet shop. I live right next to this empty space and would just be happy to see some life there!
we've got a lot of coffee shops in the area, so i'm not sure if having another one is worthwhile.
i think our area is really lacking a good kabob joint, possibly with sheesha too. minus the dancing and drinks. good place for carryout or just lounging around.
the nails thing mostly appeals to women only; as a guy there is zero benefit for me, to have that.
otherwise, maybe an ice cream place, cremerie, or quality pastry shop.
Show the women of this hood some love guys! Get us the walk-in nail salon. This place is the perfect size for it and is right in the middle of the residential area. Nail salons are no less active than these other suggestions. For you guys that have never been in one, a great nail place is full of life. And guys go there too!
Question -- what does "gay focused" mean? Examples please.
Signed -- your straight neighbor
I also vote a nail salon!! A decent nail salon that is reasonably priced...not some super expensive luxury salon. I am DYING for a place that I can get my eyebrows waxed at a reasonable price and within steps of my home. I don't have a place that I am committed to and find that many of my friends in the neighborhood are in the same situation.
Nail salon? Geeee, can we get a check cashing store and tattoo parlor too?
I'm confused as to how a nail salon can be compared to a check cashing place or a tattoo parlor. I believe THIS http://www.pinkynailchicago.com/aboutus.html is the type of place the females and males in support are talking about. CLEAN, reasonably priced, walk-ins welcome with nail and waxing services.
Why are some of the guys on these comments so hostile about a nail salon? I know it is not a bar but it is something that women do need.
'Straight Neighbor' - Hee hee. I can't list it here silly but ask your gay friends......they know what I'm talking about.
Gay-focused means sells lube.
I will also chime in and say that a nice nail salon would be great.
My dream would also include bringing Brooklyn Bagel to the neighborhood, as there are no good bagels in DC.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/brooklyn-bagel-bakery-arlington
personally i'd like a cheap bar there, but i dont live in the neighborhood. if i did, i'd want some real service or real life stuff i could use.
a dentist
a bike shop
a hat store
a place to buy socks.
a frame shop
a petstore is a good idea.
a jeweler
a mac store.. i kid i kid... though the mac make up store.
a lush soap shop
i imagine..sure.. whatever.. a nail salon. no woman i know goes to them but okay.
a bakery
make it a real neighborhood, not just an entertainment destination.
that's the path its on, and in 5-10 years i bet neighbors will be fighting it.
Previous Anonymous - You lost me at "I don't live in the neighborhood". May I recommend you comment on or create your own neighborhood blog.
An "entertainment neighborhood only" resident.
This is not a good location for a bar. And there are bars all around this location that work well for their location. Why would you want a bar? Just ask the folks at the Cosmopolitan how much they like being next door to Muse Lounge.
This is a great spot for much-needed neighborhood oriented retail or services.
How about a Pet Nail Salon ? There. Problem solved.
FYI -
The Spriggs property apparently sold for $715,000 at auction:
http://realestate.alexcooper.com/sold-real-estate/featured-details/632/
You can never have too many nail salons!
Spriggs property has no wall in the back. Wonder if they knew that.
And I need a pedicure but have no place to go (sigh).
Nail salons are NOT just for women. last time i got a pedicure the person next to me was over 80 and male. Its all about maintenance. Guys (& girls...), attend to your funky feet! your significant others will appreciate clean groomed digits.
i think its a great location for a nail salon....if someone wants to open an indian restaurant in another location, life would be perfect.
Nothing against the ladies or their nails... but I think we also need a decoration/housewares store for all the new home owners in the area. There are several "cool, hip and modern" establishments on 14th and M street (Georgetown) that could move to the area.
I also think foot traffic will increase significantly on that block, and any "impulse item"-selling store might benefit from being there.
Ladies, will you even go to a nail salon next door to a liquor store and AA meetings with a strip club across the street? I understand that this may make a good location for a nail place, but something that would appeal to more people might be better.
Last time I checked, both men and women, gay and straight, enjoy a good bakery, deli, coffee shop, or something along those lines.
I've never had a pedicure but would give it a try - I hate clipping toe nails!
I bought a condo next to an AA meeting and across from a strip club (and, originally, a crack house-- Fun Fair). I definitely would not have a problem getting my nails done next door. By the way, the AA meeting plans to move to cheaper space and the strip club is slated to become a jazz/dinner establishment.
Alot of the notes on this post seem to be fairly anti-female in tone. I don't get it.
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