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GM writes an occasional series called the Ghosts of Markets Past, wherein he explores the former corner markets that used to dot the neighborhood. In researching for that series he came across a fantastic resource: a list of all chain grocery stores in DC as included in various city directories. Although GM’s quest to highlight all the corner stores will continue, he wanted to compile the Georgetown locations from that listing.

The map above shows the Georgetown locations of various chain grocery stores in the 1930s and 1940s. (Here is a link to the map). The vast majority of them were Sanitary grocery stores. (This was a chain started in Bethesda by John Letts in 1909. By 1927, Letts bought Piggly Wiggly and had 362 locations. The next year Safeway bought out Sanitary.) Beyond the Sanitary grocery stores, there were a handful of A&Ps and Piggly Wigglys.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• A sign in the window at L’Enfant Gallery states that they are indeed leaving the space, with the goal of staying in Georgetown.
• The newly reopened Whole Foods up in Glover Park made the New York Times and shopping there sounds frankly like an alarming experience.

A new “apartment hotel” has come to Georgetown. The hotel is the work of Sonder, a company that both manages AirBnb’s and offers its own apartments directly.

The company has secured 11 units at 1111 30th St. They are offering a mix of studio apartments up to two-bedroom apartments. Like Airbnb, the guests are charged nightly. In this case rates range from $117 up to $247 a night.

From what GM can tell, it appears these units are all from the form Georgetown Suites complex which closed down last year. At the time it was closed, it was announced that the units were being converted to residential. Considering that it had 224 units, it would appear that most of them may still be headed in that direction. These eleven units being advertised on Sonder are a small slice of the whole building.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Flowers piling up at the Ukrainian embassy.
• Takeout Tuesday for tomorrow is Green Almond Pantry and Susheria.

A bubble tea shop is seeking zoning approval to open at 1357 Wisconsin Ave. The shop is called Taichi Bubble Tea, and it would be one of a little over a dozen such shops nationwide.

According to the restaurant’s website:

First opened in 2015, has been growing across the United States. We hope to bring the best bubble tea, healthy poke bowl, and tasty ramen to people from all over the world. In the meanwhile, we strive to provide a place for people to connect with family and friends while enjoying the delicious drink and food.

It would seem odd that a restaurant would be required to get zoning approval to open on Wisconsin Ave. But it’s necessary because fast food restaurants are actually not permitted in Georgetown without a special exception. This dates to the mid 1980s when the city was afraid of neighborhoods like Georgetown getting overrun with McDonald’s et al. What counts as a fast food restaurant has come under debate over the years, especially with the rise of the fast casual restaurant. But GM doesn’t anticipate this establishment running into much trouble.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Nice profile of the new Sticx restaurant.
• Pie Sisters has closed.

The Capitol One Bank branch located at the corner of Q and Wisconsin Ave. is slated to be shut down. Its last day of operation will be May 18th.

A branch has been here since 1996, when Chevy Chase Bank constructed the current building. Prior to that, it was an Exxon station. Like all Chevy Chase Bank branches, it became a Capital One when the later bought out the former in 2009.

This is the third bank branch to close in Georgetown over the last couple years. The HSBC and M&T banks closed in 2020 and 2021 respectively. GM has long been a vocal critic of there being too many bank branches in Georgetown. And it would be hypocritical of him to now bemoan the fact that he was actually a Capital One customer and lives right around the corner from this soon-to-close branch. What’s good for the goose…

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU still recording over 100 covid cases a week.
• Former Key Bridge Exxon site possibly heading to foreclosure.