Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Washington Business Journal has confirmed what some have already guessed that Capital One would do with its recently purchased property at Wisconsin and M. Namely, that the bank plans to turn the property into a Capital One Cafe. This is terribly sad. And lame. Super lame.

This is how the bank describes this new concept:

Capital One Cafes — which combine financial advisory space with a co-working lounge and a food and beverage operation — are designed to attract a younger audience. They are open to the public, not just to Capital One customers. The company has opened up more than 20 around the country but has none in D.C.

This is how GM describes this new concept:

The WBJ article homes in on the real purpose of this extremely expensive endeavor: branding. They write:

When 3150 M St. NW sold for such a high price, David Dochter of Dochter and Alexander Retail Advisors, which represented the seller, said at the time that it was a matter of both “location” and “branding.” The comment makes a lot more sense now as Capital One prepares to put its brand on two of D.C.’s most high profile locations.

There is absolutely no way in hell that Capital One will ever get a return from the retail business at this location to justify the $50 million it paid for the property. They can’t sell enough lattés or lines of credit to get this location into the black. But viewed instead like a giant billboard, then it makes sense. (Or at least gets closer to making sense). Continue reading →

Photo by Marc Andre.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Via Umbria’s new chef.
• Georgetown has three of Eater’s most essential coffee shops.

1300 block of 30th St.

Photo by John Weiss.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The “corpse vault” that may have sheltered runaway slaves.
• Suspect identified in recent waterfront shooting.

1200 block of 34th St.

In order to fix Lock No. 3 in Georgetown, the C & O Canal was drained. Through the early part of this summer, that left the canal bed a dry and cracked layer of mud. But now it’s something entirely different.

What has emerged from the mud is a virtual savanna of grasses and other leafy plants. And despite the canal being drained, a natural stream of river water has emerged, winding its way through the new pasture. Sit along the canal now, and you can see the vibrant ecosystem that typifies natural wetlands.

Continue reading →

Photo by the Library of Congress.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GM was always curious what it looked inside the (currently condemned) Washington Canoe Club. Here’s a series of photos inside from the Library of Congress.
• Nice article updating on the effort to save the streetcar trestle just west of Georgetown.

1400 block of 34th St.

Some serious work is being done to two of the buildings that previously long housed cheap suit stores. 1357 and 1359 Wisconsin Ave. (the two storefronts north of Tugoo Toys) have been getting worked on for months. And while the facades remain, there’s basically nothing left behind them.

If you peak through the paper blocking the windows, you’ll see the scene above. Some of the structure remains, but not much.

This is actually a great sign. These buildings had been allowed to decay over the decades. Now that serious money is going into the effort to restore the buildings, they will hopefully be more attractive to more upscale shops than places that will sell you two suits for $75.

Of course, that was the plan for the Georgetown theater, and yet Robert Bell struggled to find a tenant to take the space. Last GM heard it was a Foot Locker spinoff, which is not exactly what most people had hoped for. Oh well, we’ll see.

Photo by John Weiss.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Sad story of when ten people drowned at a rowing regatta in 1904 along the Georgetown waterfront.
• GM expanded upon the Georgetown alley that was bought story here.
• New skin care shop, Take Care, now open at 1338 Wisconsin (the former Helia’s space).