Comments on: ANC Preview

By: Reminder: ANC Meeting Tonight «

Reminder: ANC Meeting Tonight « — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:01:38 +0000

[...] rest for the weary: the ANC jumps right back into action tonight at 6:30 at Visitation. They’ll cover the possible repair of the Georgetown Theater sign, Philadelphia Pizza, and another cupcake joint, [...]

By: William

William — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:53:30 +0000

Good gravy, the Patisserie Didier, I had completely forgotten about that incarnation of the space. Anyway, I think the idea is a goldmine, if I do say so myself. Just needs the right investor.

Another place I miss this time of year is Little Caledonia, which used to be in the same block of Wisconsin where the Christ Child Shop still is. LC was a great place to shop for Christmas gifts for ladies of a certain age.

By: GM

GM — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:33:06 +0000

I too am surprised that that space has stayed empty for so long. It’s slightly off the beaten path, but Cady’s Alley shows that when you’re worth going to, the people will beat their own path to you.

As for whether more neighborhood stores can be “legislated”, I think Cleveland Park is a decent case study for that. I wrote something to that end a little while back:

http://georgetownmetropolitan.com/2009/09/15/there-but-for-the-grace-of-zoning/

By: Medusa

Medusa — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:02:43 +0000

I like William’s suggestions a lot. He’s absolutely correct about the old Grace & Bamboo, which before that was a neat little French bistro and before that a marvelous little pastry shop. It’s a shame the space sits empty, especially with an available liquor license.

I agree also about the convenience store at Washington Harbour. I always wondered what was really going on there.

There should be an advisory committee that urges developers to consider the needs of pocket neighborhoods. Perhaps even requirements that dictate give back.

The waterfront is wonderful, especially with the new park, but it desperately needs businesses that serve the residents.

By: William

William — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:19:12 +0000

…and Sprinkles will last for about a year, until this trend finally fades away. Sigh. Well, at least there will be something in that shop front.

I’m going to make a comment here for those of us who live in the Cherry Hill district of Georgetown, i.e. south of M and West of Wisconsin. The closest (in)convenience store for us used to be the one in Washington Harbour, which always felt like walking into some strange, back-alley 7-11 somewhere in the Ginza District. The selection of products was truly bizarre, things were often stale, and prices were astronomical. That place closed more than a year ago, and now if you want a bottle of milk and a newspaper, you have to schelp up to CVS.

On Grace Street, just off Wisconsin Avenue, the failed Chinese restaurant Grace & Bamboo has been sitting empty for a long time despite having a liquor license. I would love to see Anthony Lanier or someone buy or lease the space and put in a quality neighborhood grocer/convenience shop like Sara’s or Scheele’s for those of us who live along the harborfront. Between the condos on the canal, the Georgetown Ritz Carlton residences, the Papermill, the Flour Mill, Canal House, The Georgetown Park Residences, etc., you are looking at a significant number of well-to-do consumers, living in Georgetown’s only real condo/loft district, who would be more than happy to pick up some cheese and crackers, a bottle of wine, and some aspirin from a local grocer on Grace Street rather than having to head all the way to CVS on a rainy Tuesday night.