Coyote Ugly Begins Transformation, BodySmith & E Street Info

How do we find out who bought-out the BodySmith lease?

I would suggest contacting the people who own the retail space. In this case I believe it is CarrAmerica Realty Corporation. Click here to go to their property listings. Click Washington DC, then click Downtown. Terrell Place is towards the right on the map. Contacts are listed as David Bevirt and Amy Kaufman.

Give them a call and let us know what you find!

also, DDOT publishes their Bicycle Initiatives and Master Plan (out to the year 2015) on their website. the link follows:

http://www.ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,
1245,q,559639,ddotNav,|32399|.asp

the Proposed Bicycle Facilities Map shows all planned DC bicycle routes. forward thinking on DC’s transport needs by DDOT.

The BodySmith space is about to be leased to a single user that will take the full 28,000 square feet of retail space left in the building (it will include the two 1,500 square foot bays north of the BodySmith entrance). I am told by a real estate guru that it will be a VERY exciting addition to the hood. The lease should be finalized w/in a week or so and apparently there will be a press release once it is done. I certainly hope so!

Also negotiations continue for the Balducci’s space. I am told that a decision is imminent — keep your fingers crossed.

Anon: that info is too juicy! Did the CarrAmerica people tell you this, or is it an anonymous source? Thanks!

omg, how can anonymous do this to us? my productivity will be nil until i can stop guessing about what this “VERY exciting addition” will be.

Let the predictions begin! The former BodySmith space is prime real estate on 7th Street – D.C.’s entertainment district. I am excited! Could it be a new Apple retail store? Apple’s largest store is over 20,000 square feet (NYC). Or how about a Sony Style retail store? It would be a suprise since Sony recently closed their big Chicago store on Michigan Ave. Sony does have two big retail stores in San Francisco and NYC. Or how about one of those new Samsung retail showrooms like in NYC or London? Or how about about a Virgin MegaStore? I doubt it, but not impossible. This space is not as large as most of their other stores (50,000 square feet). Or am I way out in left field with all these exciting possibilities?

Place your bets now!

What about a CB2 (Crate and Barrel’s urban living outfit)? They looked into the Woody’s building years ago, but at the time, they decided against expanding beyond Chicago. I’ve heard they’ve decided to open a NYC location. Could Penn Quarter also be on the horizon?

Just yesterday I said that once I see an Apple store in our neighborhood I will know we have *arrived* — I want an Apple store! I’d take a Sony store too!

An Apple store would be absolutely awesome!

To follow up on my earlier post…

CB2 is currently looking in Penn Quarter and will likely sign a lease somewhere on F Street — probably either the Atlantic Building or Carrol Square, not the Woodies Building, though, bcse the West Elm lease prohibits another furniture store there (pretty silly if you ask me).

Virgin is not looking to expand anywhere anymore and, in fact, is now CLOSING stores around the US/Canada — they just closed in Dallas, Vancouver and will soon close in Boston — IMHO, most large music stores are sadly doomed to extinction.

Apple is actively looking in DC and may well be interested in a FLAGSHIP store downtown (they have been looking in G’town/Dupont for at least three years!!!). Steve Jobs and Co. take their time to open urban stores (particularly flagship stores) in key markets around the world (e.g., the SF store opened only recently and stores have yet to open in Paris, Boston, Philly, etc.).

Other retailers looking downtown (that my real estate friend mentioned) include Sephora, BCBG, Kenneth Cole, Old Navy (though apparently most downtown landlords don’t want them), Zara, Aerosoles, Stitch DC, Maggianos (the restaurant) and a number of other stores I can’t remember. He also told me that the Ginger Cove space has been leased to Jose Andres for his new concept restaurant and that the Andale space will be leased any day now. Also to clarify the Balducci’s situation, JPI is expecting that the grocer will decide no later than mid September (we will see).

The key point is that the downtown retail market is heating up and a number of deals (particularly on F Street) will hopefully happen very soon. BTW, I still don’t know for certain who is going into the BodySmith space but I do know that it isn’t CB2 (Apple, perhaps??).

i’d wager madame tussauds wax museum

or an indoor ski slope.

Just want to point out that comments on this blog predicted BarJose in the Ginger Cove space weeks ago.

Anonymous 8/29/2006 10:13:40 PM!!!!! Who art thou? I am so happy to hear that there is interest/activity on that F street corridor. I was scared the area would become another strip of empty Doug Jemal spaces. I’m so excited about the CB2. I went to the original one in Chicago and loved it. And all of that retail sounds very exciting. I can’t wait.

I’m with Scenic Artisan.. My money is on madame tussauds. It would be almost directly across the street from the Smithsonian.

D.C.’s retail landscape is almost at critical mass! Landlords can now pick & choose the retailers that they want. Also, the city now garners much more attention when it sends its delegation out to the annual National Retail Convention in Las Vegas. D.C.’s retail future looks bright!

By the end of the decade, Penn Quarter/Gallery Place will undoubtedly be the retail, entertainment, and cultural center of this region (There are some doubts of this now). We already have a growing share of D.C. flagship stores in the neighborhood – United Colors of Benetton, Urban Outfitters, West Elm, H&M). The upscale, non-chain stores still have a chance here too, especially at the new Center City development that will be on convention center site. I believe 30% of the 300,000 square feet of retail there is reserved for retailers that have 6 or less stores in the U.S.

That space seems all wrong for a Wax Museum. I don’t mind having a wax museum in the neighborhood but I would wager a larger, more open space would work better. Plus, I would hate having those throngs of tourists congregating in front and blocking the sidewalk like they do at the Spy Museum. Anonymous, is there any talk of getting a wine shop in the neighborhood?

There is already a wine shop in the neighborhood- Central Liquors which is next to Cowgirl Creamery. Doesn’t look like much from the outside but it does carry a large selection of wines.

I have never had a good experience with Central Liquor. Their service stinks and their selection of wines under $15 is poor. We have wine with dinner every night and we end up having to do our wine shopping in Logan, Capitol Hill, or even Virginia (gasp!). I would love something like a Best Cellars in the neighborhood.

Rodman’s in Friendship Heights has a good selection of affordable wines and a helpful staff.

Here’s a link to this weeks ad to give you idea of selection and prices. http://www.rodmans.com/dc_ad.html

It’s an interesting store, took me a while before I discovered the downstairs with the pharmacy, cookware, etc.

I’m a little wary of Central Liquors’ wine selection–they have some rather expensive wine in open storage and it feels like it’s at least 80 degrees in there on hot days. Their beer selection is also lacking–there’s usually not a single stout available.

I’m not completely following the wax museum references, although it somewhat rings a familiar bell in the back of my brain. Do we know for sure that there is to be a wax museum in the area, but don’t know where?

In any event, I hope its not anywhere near me!

Anon: We mentioned a few months ago that Madame Tussauds wax museum was looking for some downtown space.

I have some new info (at this point this is just specualtion BUT from well placed sources)…

Apparently the BodySmith space is poised to become the America’s Most Wanted Museum (don’t kill the messenger!). I am told that they were close to doing a deal at the Verizon Center until Vida swooped in to take the space. The wax museum, on the other hand, will likely take space in the basement of the Woodies building (I am trying to get more info about that). BTW, Total Wine is looking to open up a massive (but very upscale) liquor/gourmet store in the neighborhood (we will see if they can find 20k+ square feet and, yes, the Balducci’s space could work BUT Balducci’s controls the space right now!!).

WHAT? Anon, weren’t you told that this would be “a VERY exciting addition to the hood?” American’s Most Wanted Museum sounds like an awful idea. What’s next, a Dollywood on the old Convention Center site? For our sake, I hope your source is wrong. As for the Balducci’s space, that is zoned for a grocery store. I doubt a wine shop (as much as I want one) would pass as a grocery store.

Most Wanted Museum? Oh dear.

oh brother. not thrilled about living in the middle of a tourist trap.

NOT very exciting news for the ‘hood!

FWIW –

I share your dismay over the BodySmith news. However, I think the reality is that Penn Quarter will be just fine. The neighborhood has a very impressive collection of restaurants now (with many more soon to follow) and ever increasing foot traffic. I can tell you first hand how hard it was to sell the neighborhood to prospective tenants as recently as three years ago — now, in contrast, a quick walk through the ‘hood does wonders. What’s more, I believe that variety (both good — e.g., CB2/Apple/West Elm — and bad — e.g., AMW Museum/Ruby Tuesday, etc.) add vitality and life to the area. Over time I am sure Penn Quarter will become increasingly upscale — ironically, perhaps, to the point where some “old timers” will miss some of the junk we now curse.

BTW — you are right about Balducci’s — one way or another it will be a grocery store (and I am guessing it will be a Balducci’s).

America’s Most Wanted Museum? Excuse me? lol

That does not sound VERY exciting!

Well, after I got over my initial reaction, I tend to agree that we’ll be just fine. The prospect of having the entire Terrell Place building retail-front occupied will put a big smile on my face. It is also close to Judiciary Square.. that’s an appropriate location.