RSS FeedArtifactory Closing (641 Indiana Ave NW)
The Artifactory, a quiet neighborhood icon that opened in 1972, is closing in mid-August to make way for The Grand Trunk, a new Pakistani restaurant. A 50% off closing sale of its African & Asian art is in progress. The building is located at 641 Indiana Ave NW and sits between Starbucks and Penn Quarter Sports Tavern.
What may be unusual to some is that The Artifactory’s shop owner, Dominick Cardella, actually owns the historic 1817 building that houses his shop. So, while the Artifactory is closing, Cardella will still remain as a Penn Quarter resident and neighbor.
We agree with the Washington Post when they suggest that Dominick Cardella may be Penn Quarter’s first resident. Most of us know that before the apartments and condos came, Penn Quarter was mostly parking lots and commercial buildings. And, thanks to Cardella’s efforts in 1975 that helped stop the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation from razing his and neighboring buildings, we are still able to enjoy the short row of historic commercial facades in our neighborhood. Cardella also notes that behind one of the wooden panels of the building’s facade is an old sign for one of the prior tenants: Office of the Siemens-Lungren Gas Lamp Co.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
so glad to hear that Mr Cardella is staying around!
xoxo