Penn Quarter Living

Downtown Washington DC/Penn Quarter news and urban commentary

  • About
  • Local Links
  • Condos In PQ
  • Writers
  • Advertising
  • Commenting
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feed
  • Comments

Juan Valdez Café To Close On April 30th (7th & E St NW)

Posted by gpliving
April 18, 2007

Karl just wrote in with this rumor: Just heard that the Juan Valdez Café at 7th & E will be closing on April 30th. Bad new for folks who enjoy an alternative to “Charbucks”.

Related posts:

  1. Potato Valley Cafe Coming To Penn Quarter!
  2. Potato Valley Cafe Opening This Month (Or Next)! *Updated*
  3. Cafe du Parc Opens! (1401 Penn Ave)
Share

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Comments
Comment by Columbo on April 18, 2007 @ 10:18 am

Damn I hope this isn’t true, I liked this place much more than SB. If true, I’ll miss the expresso with brown sugar when the place closes.

Comment by Andy in PQ on April 18, 2007 @ 10:38 am

OH NO!!!!! I liked their coffee so much more than SB. Unfortunately, Starbucks is always full, and Juan Valdez is not. I think it’s mostly because people (esp. tourists) don’t know what it is and they just gravitate to what they know. I’ll really miss their cafe con leche. No one else makes that (and no it’s not a latte, it’s more of a cafe au lait).

Comment by Tra on April 18, 2007 @ 10:42 am

No.No.No! I so enjoyed atmosphere along with the free WiFi. For an alternative to the mermaid check out Breakwell’s on 9th st. b/w M&N NW (Convention Ctr). It’s a bit of a walk but it’s a local biz that offers great coffee, free WiFi, comfy sofas.

Comment by Anonymous on April 18, 2007 @ 11:20 am

I hope they will reconsider. I love their Coffee. I think they just need to do more to get people to come into the store such as live singers to make it more festive. PLEASE STAY.

Comment by Andy in PQ on April 18, 2007 @ 11:43 am

I think it’s more of a marketing problem. it doesn’t look like a coffee house, and it’s called a cafe. If you’ve never heard of it, and you don’t remember the old colombian coffee commercials, you probably wouldn’t think of it as being a competitor to starbucks. More signage would have helped. I will really miss the coffee and the free wifi.

Comment by Anonymous on April 18, 2007 @ 12:17 pm

Oh great, more empty storefronts to line 7th Street. In that short stretch now you’ll have the Juan Valdez along with the Balducci space, former Pua and the former architecture firm spaces.

Comment by gpliving on April 18, 2007 @ 12:24 pm

I think that’s just the nature of a vibrant city. Stores close and new ones open up in their place.
The Juan Valdez store was an aggressive expansion of the chain to compete directly with Starbucks. Well, looks like they lost the competition.

In the face of dwindling sales of coffee in a can, the federation developed a strategy for global expansion that would include the cafes and coffee machines at retail locations.

Source

Comment by tom veil on April 18, 2007 @ 1:00 pm

Farewell, Juan. I’ll always have fond memories of the day that I got an 8-hour caffeine buzz on a Nevado.

Comment by Anonymous on April 18, 2007 @ 1:37 pm

Did Juan had to find someone else to fill the lease? If so, wonder what’s coming?

Comment by Anonymous on April 18, 2007 @ 2:44 pm

I heard the reason they are closing is because the store is losing money, and I guess not showing a pattern of increasing revenue enough to believe it will make money any time soon.

I like that place too, and I actually sent an email to Juan Valdez Cafe corporate 3 months ago stating that I was conerned they would want to close because they didn’t have enough customers, and I listed 5 things they could do to holpfully increase traffic. Two of the suggestions were to put better signage outside and to sell the Paper. I agree, people just don’t see that they are there. I myself didn’t notice until months after they opened. I also could never understand why they didn’t sell the Washington Post. If someone wanted a paper, they had to go across the street to Starbucks. Needless to say I’m not surprised they are closing. It is just unfortuante that they didn’t make the effort to get more business, because I think they could have been successful. Especially since they have FREE WIRELESS!!!

Comment by suicide_blond on April 18, 2007 @ 2:52 pm

i personally love the “shot in the dark” a shot of espresso in their dark coffee ..its soo strong it once gave me the jitters …and that my friends….. is hard to do!!
farewell juan….
xoxo

Comment by Anonymous on April 18, 2007 @ 3:15 pm

I wouldn’t be surprised if Shimba Hills soon follows Juan’s lead. Mornings when I walk by and the line at Starbucks is to the door, Shimba has few if any customers.

I would think something will quickly fill that space; however, aside from the District Chophouse, the other spaces on that block of 7th have sat empty for years.

Comment by gpliving on April 18, 2007 @ 3:18 pm

A lot of the space to the left of the Chophouse will be filled by the America’s Most Wanted Museum. Other empty space is zoned as Arts, and is probably too costly for 99% of arts oriented businesses.

I agree that the Jaun Valdez space should be filled up pretty quickly.

Comment by Clara Barton Dweller on April 18, 2007 @ 4:21 pm

Oh no! I always hate to see competition decline.

However, there is one thing Starbucks does better than Juan Valdez or Shimba Hills: make its atmosphere seem cozy to passersby. From the window as you pass by, neither JV nor SH looks like a place to settle in and read the paper, hang out, work on your laptop, etc. Not as much as Starbucks does.

Comment by Jason on April 18, 2007 @ 9:40 pm

this is really too bad – their shot in the dark is fantastic. Shimba is great too. they always give me free desert when i’m in there with a laptop.

does anybody know if theres a coffee place open after 10 on weeknights in/around gallery place? all three starbucks on 7th close early,shimba and juan valdez empty out before nine.

Comment by pqresident on April 18, 2007 @ 10:20 pm

I think CBD hits the nail on the proverbial head. the interior is mostly white and uninviting. chalk it up to marketing. their drinks were always on the money in my tastebuds. and, they had the frequent customer card which Starbucks DOESN’T have. but no customers = no revenue = no store.

Comment by jason on April 19, 2007 @ 8:25 am

:( I will so miss Juan Valdez as an alternative to SB’s burnt decaf. But like others, I’m not terribly surprised. In addition to not selling the newspaper, they didn’t sell any food worth eating (save for a brief flirtation with warm breakfast sandwiches), and that always led me to SB when I was craving something naughty after a long night.

Our neighborhood probably has too many coffee shops, but this is definitely not the one I would have wanted to close. And that stretch of 7th Street is just too sad with all its empty storefronts. Is the America’s Most Wanted museum actually happening? I thought that was mistaken for the Law Enforcement Memorial museum that’s going in near 5th & F?

Comment by Urbandweller on April 19, 2007 @ 8:58 am

I disagree that the wide stretch of empty storefronts – and the difficulty in keeping existing places open – is normal for a city. That said, it’s not shocking for Penn Quarter. Despite the completion of a handful of condo buildings in the past year, the neighborhood still lacks a signficiant residential population. And, let’s face it, DC’s fanny-packed tourist base is not looking to lounge around drinking a latte or shopping in clothing stores – other than those that sell tees and caps with “CIA” or “FBI” slapped across it.

Comment by Anonymous on April 19, 2007 @ 1:39 pm

The Juan Valdez space was empty for years before it was rented out… and my prediction is it will stay empty for a long time before Jemal finds a sucker willing to pay his ridiculous Manhattan-level demands. Maybe as part of his agreement with DOJ he should have been forced to rent out his stores at the current market price, not the fanciful price in his head. I would avoid that corner once Juan Valdez closes, because without a store open it is very dark and dangerous (I’ve seen people accosted there when the space was vacant).

Comment by Anonymous on April 19, 2007 @ 4:50 pm

Avoid that corner? It’s not dark at all and it’s an extremely high traffic area with all the restaurants and the Clara Barton and other condos nearby. I can think of plenty much more dangerous corners to avoid in Penn Quarter then the corner of 7th and E.

Comment by Andy in PQ on April 23, 2007 @ 8:07 am

Went in for a cafe con leche this weekend and confirmed that someone has indeed already taken over the lease. The woman working didn’t exactly know who, but she was sure the place was already leased to another entity.

Comment by Anonymous on April 29, 2007 @ 1:02 pm

I’m in shock.

I was going to go to Au Bon Pain for my lunch this afternoon, but after reading this, I’m going to go here instead to find out what’s up.

I really liked the place, but it was just a couple blocks too far from my office for me to go every day and so I only went a few times a month.

It’s really a wonderful place in an otherwise too drab city.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Search

Archives

  • June 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • Recent Comments

      • Take A 10-question Survey To Tell The Downtown DC BID About Your Vision For Gallery Place-Chinatown
        Terrie Chan said: Chinatown...(more)
      • Penn Quarter CVS In Lansburgh Building Closing This Month (435 8th St NW)
        Natalie said: Oh, CVS, you will be missed by us. Last...(more)
      • Penn Quarter Paul Now Fully Closed (801 Penn Ave NW)
        Jo-Ann neuhaus said: Thank you for being out and reporting on opened and...(more)
      • Residents Meet With DC Council At Roundtable Regarding On-Street Musician Noise
        Joan Eisenstodt said: Woohoo. Sorry I was away...(more)
      • Uniqlo Opening On F St In Two Days (1090 F St NW)
        GalleryPlaceGal said: They are open for 6 months; looking for a larger store...(more)
      • Hen Quarter Restaurant Now Open (750 E St NW)
        TC said: After seeing this posting (thx!) we tried HQ the next day. Have to say...(more)
      • Weschler’s Auctioneers & Appraisers Moving To The Suburbs
        Xena said: This is my old office…we just moved a few...(more)
      • Hen Quarter Plans To Open In Old Austin Grill Space (750 E St NW)
        pqresident said: Thanks @Christina and @Jen for the updates!(more)
      • Hen Quarter Plans To Open In Old Austin Grill Space (750 E St NW)
        Jen said: Yep. They are training the staff all next week...(more)
      • Hen Quarter Plans To Open In Old Austin Grill Space (750 E St NW)
        Christina said: I was told by the crew that was trying to...(more)


Copyright 2006-2023. Penn Quarter Living. All rights reserved.

  • Home
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Local Links
  • Condos In PQ
  • Writers
  • Advertising
  • Commenting
  • Contact Us