RSS FeedVapiano Now Set To Open In March Of 2008
Vapiano’s US website now reports that the restaurant will be opening up in our neighborhood in March of 2008. There is still no indication of the exact location of the restaurant. We noted yesterday that the previously planned located will be redeveloped and wouldn’t be ready until 2009.
In July, we reported that Vapiano was set to open during the summer of this year.
Play-By-Play: Grocery Store Development
It’s that time in Penn Quarter when everyone has grocery store fever! So, here is some info to temporarily relieve your symptoms:
A reader informs us: I wanted to give this heads-up and see if you guys could possibly dig into this. I just walked by the “grocery store space” about 3 minutes ago and saw that there are currently several workers inside the building cleaning, and also removing the “For Lease” lettering from all of the windows. I can only assume that the building has now been leased because all of the lettering is gone, the doors are open, and there is minor cleaning work taking place inside (at 9pm mind you).
Could workers just be getting ready for the big meeting tomorrow between Whole Foods and Douglas Development? Also, PQ residents should not be shy to talk to contractors – they provide the best information!
Charles Schwab has nothing on Michael Kahn
Ed. Note: We sometimes invite regular PQ Living commenters to write a guest post. In this missive, sb provides her perspective on living downtown in the PQ using a writing style uniquely her own. Michael Kahn, referenced in the article, is the artistic director for the PQ’s own Shakespeare Theater.
so…how do you like living in Penn Quarter??? people ask me that these days…
in the old days…and when I say old days…I mean a few years ago…there was no such thing as the Penn Quarter…
and when I told people where I lived…they scratched their heads and asked “…umm…why??”…even cabbies…looked at me like I was crazy when I would leave Dupont at the end of a night and say…“Chinatown please…”
it was called Chinatown back then…and get this…it was full of Chinese people and businesses…
but that’s not why I moved here…(even if I do have a degree in Asian culture)…
Douglas Development Wants Whole Foods In Penn Quarter! Needs Residents’ Help
OCT 11 UPDATE: The Whole Foods online petition has broken 1000 signers.
To sign the online petition, follow this link.
Jason and Kelby chimed in a few minutes ago with some info that was announced at tonight’s Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting:
The Downtown Neighborhood Association recently learned that Douglas Development has been negotiating with Whole Foods Market to bring them into our neighborhood on 7th Street NW location between E and D Streets NW. This was the space that Balducci’s was slated to occupy until their unexpected decision against it last year.
Douglas Development has asked for community support and time is critical; there is a meeting between the two parties this Friday. Sign the online petition that will be presented to Whole Foods. Please notify your downtown friends and acquaintances of our petition!
Here is a link to the online petition.
As you may recall, Douglas Development recently purchased the Balducci’s space from JPI. This means that the developer who would be leasing the the space to Whole Foods is personally asking residents to help them gain a Whole Foods in Penn Quarter!
Ed. Note: As of this afternoon, both DCist and the Washington Business Journal have picked up the story. Thanks go to Heather and Maisha for pointing this out. As of 3:45 pm, the petition count currently stands at 482.
DCist – Whole Foods in Talks for Gallery Place Space
WaBizJournal – Douglas Development trying to bring Whole Foods to Penn Quarter