PQ Retail Happenings: VIDA & SoHo
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Walking about town yesterday, we noticed the sign for VIDA Fitness in the Renaissance Hotel was going up. The facility officially opened in January at 999 9th St NW. While the gym is open to the public, it was also awarded a contract to provide fitness services to nearby DHS workers as well as Renaissance Hotel guests.
Also, thanks to PQL reader Rusty for spotting (and sending in a pic!) that SoHo Cafe at 401 9th St NW has abruptly closed. Does anyone have any info as to why it closed?
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Comments
SoHo was always crowded at lunch time to. There are other SoHo’s in DC, wonder if they closed as well.
If there is an area in the U.S. that would seem to be most insulated from the current downturn, it would seem to be downtown DC, where agencies are ramping up, consultants/professionals are moving (for both private and government jobs), and, generally, growth will likely occur because of the government’s numerous efforts/packages to stimulate the economy. We’re looking at bigger government.
I go to the Soho in the National Press Building for lunch and it is still open.
In other news, Zenith Gallery is also closing, see: http://www.zenithgallery.com/. Once the Inauguration Superstore moves on, that’s going to be quite a stretch of vacant space on that side of 7th between D and E. If it wasn’t for Sei, that block would be close to a dead zone.
Soho did a brisk business, I don’t get it. I worked in that building for a few years and the place was a zoo.
Re Soho: for a successful business to close so suddenly gets me thinking that they got into some tax trouble such as not forking over the District sales tax, payroll tax, etc. But that’s just a guess.
My question is where is everyone going for lunch these days?
Rumor has it that Soho had insurance problems. They had a pretty serious pipe leak earlier this year and perhaps couldnt cover repairs?? Just speculation.
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I hate to be a pessimist, but I suspect that for the next 12-18 months, there will be more stories about retail establishments closing as opposed to opening. Would enjoy being wrong on this one, but am not holding my breath…….