1200 block of Wisconsin Ave.
Tag Archives: Wisconsin Ave.
Not So Long Ago: Wisconsin and Blues Alley
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This week in Not So Long Ago, GM stops by the lowest he’s been yet: Wisconsin Ave. at Blues Alley.
Nowadays this stretch hosts the recently arrived Jack Wills, a vacancy, and Georgetown Tees. It wasn’t so different back in 1993.
Where Jack Willis now stands, there was Nature Food Centres. Nature Food Centres appears to have been a competitor to General Nutrition Centers, with both of them hawking protein shakes as far back as the 1960s. It was based in Massachusetts and while it appears the overall chain isn’t around anymore, there are a few (presumably independent) shops still scattered across the northeast.
GM’s not sure when the health food store moved out. O Salon was here for many years before they moved up to, well, O St. Jack Wills, another one of the seemingly proliferating British men’s stores, opened here last year.
Next to Nature Food Centres, back in 1993, was Jade House, an antiques store. And what’s there now? An empty shop with Jade House still written on the window. So nothing’s been in there since Jade House closed.
Georgetown Tees has been the one steady presence on this block. Continue reading
Filed under Not So Long Ago
What’s Wrong With Wisconsin Ave.?
Photo by Raoul Pop.
What’s ailing Wisconsin Ave.? Despite being in one of the most popular retail districts in the country, the strip is littered with vacancies and discount clothing stores? What gives? How did it get this way? And what can be done by the city, the BID, and the citizens to turn it around? And why aren’t there more stores that serve residents, like a hardware store?
Well tonight these questions, and more, will be on the agenda of the Citizens Association of Georgetown’s November membership meeting. On hand to discuss these matters will be Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, Chairman of Western Development, Herb Miller, and President of Asadoorian Commercial brokerage, John Asadoorian. Each of these men play a big role in what Georgetown looks like today, and will likely play a big role in what it looks like in ten years and beyond. Evans is about to be reelected, Miller’s Western Development is still a big player in the Georgetown development scene, and Asadoorian is active throughout the neighborhood getting businesses and landlords together.
GM himself will be moderator, but he’ll keep his role to just tossing out the questions to the panel and getting out of the way. Continue reading
Filed under Citizens Association of Georgetown
Not So Long Ago: Wisconsin and S
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This week for Not So Long Ago, GM moves back up to the top of Wisconsin Ave between R and S Streets.
Nowadays, from left to right this block hosts Gill & Sons realtor, First Cash pawn shop, P.O. Boxes Etc., an office building, Shanghai Lounge, and Bistro Lepic.
In some ways, very little has changed about this strip. Gill & Sons is still in the same place and P.O. Boxes Etc. also hasn’t moved or changed its name (despite the obvious trademark issue with Mailboxes Etc.). But some of the other stores have seen quite a bit of turnover over the years.
In 1993, next to Gill & Sons was Companions pet and grooming. There also appears to be a sign at that address for Hair International of Georgetown. So apparently you could bring your dog and both of you could get a cut.
By 2004, this space held District Fine Arts, which later moved down Wisconsin Ave. before closing last year. At the same time, Spiral Flight Yoga occupied the upstairs. It later moved up the street before it too closed last year.
A few years ago Carrine’s Bridal and Anthony occupied this space before moving out about a year ago. First Cash was across the street next to the Duron paint store before it was kicked out so that Safeway could knock down its building. It’s like musical chairs up there.
On the right of P.O. Boxes Etc., it appears that in 1993 the space was empty. At some point the Indian restaurant Curry Club opened up there. This restaurant stayed open until a few years ago. In its place a Korean restaurant called Arisu opened up. GM passed Arisu a million times without going in. Finally he stopped by, somewhat out of pity for the apparently struggling restaurant. And it was very, very good food. GM was resolved to stop by more often, but sadly they closed a few weeks later. The space sat empty for a long time until Shanghai Lounge moved in earlier this year. What GM would love to see would be a restaurant that fused all three of those styles, Indian, Korean and Chinese. Mmmmm…..
Beyond that space, you can’t quite see it in the 1993 photo, but as we’ll see in a later edition, Bistro Lepic’s space was occupied by Greek Port, a Greek restaurant. The French favorite moved in in 1995 and has obviously been there ever since. Continue reading
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The Georgetown Metropolitan 
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