Valuable Vacancies

We have been lucky that new places have opened in PQ. Obtaining financing during the recession has been very difficult; that may explain why some spaces are vacant longer than they had been (SoHo at 9th and E is another example). The space on the ground floor of 1111 Pa. Ave. was vacant for years. And remember how long it took to tenant the space on 7th in teh IOOF Building where a souvenir shop held court since before the inauguration while they looked for a tenant and, certainly, that is a better location than below grade at 13th and E.

How it is possible that a prime, gigantic location with such great outdoor seating is still empty after all this time?

Because the owner wants an obscene amount for rent? The kind of rent where even $20 cocktails and $30 burgers can’t turn a profit?

The enormous space at the southeast corner of 6th and H has been vacant for at least 2 years if not more. The sign says it is for “retail or restaurant” I believe. With the boom in that neighborhood, it’s hard to imagine the developer has been asking too high a price for this long and refused to discount.

what monkyrotica says plus because the spaces aren’t very good besides (e.g., the John Harvard space). Pennsylvania Ave. doesn’t have the kind of foot traffic that supports all the restaurant spaces that are there. Have you noticed that the Old Post Office building isn’t successful, and that the number of people going into the Reagan building that don’t work there (other than for conferences) is minimal? + Panevino’s… + Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse…

It took thinking about PA Ave. for me to understand why Jane Jacobs didn’t like the City Beautiful movement. Not that PA Ave. is exactly CB, but it kinda illustrates the principals–big majestic buildings that dominate and overpower the pedestrian, nonmixed use buildings that don’t have balanced demand throughout the day.

PA Ave. will always be a problem. Freedom Plaza is a failure. But, while the FTC isn’t happy about it, maybe adding another NGA building on the street will help somewhat.

@Ben – if you mean the space on the very corner of 6th & H (aka 777 6th St NW) there was news in March to suggest that Corner Bakery Cafe has signed a lease.

However if you’re talking about the mid-block space at 700 6th Street, which is connected to Gallery Place via a pedestrian alley, I have heard no news or rumors on that prime space.

I think this is a tough space to fill. no residents live nearby so it either has to be a destination venue or live off the business crowd that works in nearby buildings. there’s a Potbelly right around the corner that seems to do OK.

@FourthandEye — the Corner bakery will be going in, but I believe there are actually two restaurant spaces in that building.

I wonder if the developer (as well as the 700 6th Street owner) are keeping the rents high in hopes that they’ll be able to cash in once the 6th street renaissance is in full flower (with Graffiato and the to-be-built “House of Big Pot” noodles, as well as the spaces coming in on the 6th and E corner, starting with Luke’s.