RSS FeedSouvenirs, Ice Cream, Cupcakes, And Shoes
There is activity afoot in several PQ storefronts, here’s what we’ve noticed over the last few weeks;
First, as we’ve reported a few times and widely suspected, the old Joe’s Souvenir HQ (1000 F st NW, corner of 10th & F) is about to open up again as a cleaned up souvenir shop. There is merchandise on the shelves and cash registers by the door. This one looks like it could open any day now, souvenir row continues to grow.
Second, we noticed a couple of weeks ago that the lights were back on inside Gifford’s Ice Cream after having been extinguished back in May. But the lights were the only change we noticed until last Friday when we saw what appeared to be construction workers entering in the early afternoon. Haven’t seen anyone since then, but this is the only activity we’ve seen since the August eviction notice.
Third, activity seems to be increasing at the 11th & F Crumbs cupcake shop (next door to Pret A Manger). Numerous hardhat workers coming & going, and a lot of permits getting added to the door. Will Crumbs be too late to the cupcake party? On a recent trip to NYC our friends there told us that Baked By Melissa mini cupcakes are now the preferred sweet treat for our neighbors to the north.
Finally, we’ve been slow to report on this one too despite reader CR informing us of shoe store Bandolino (F & 14th) closing a week ago. Mrs Columbo later confirmed Bandolino is closed and has been replaced with a Nine West. Both brands are owned by the same entity, Jones Group, so we’re not sure how big a difference there will be at the store. Curious if the PQ ladies find this to be an improvement?
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I see a people regularly who appear to be working on the old Platinum space. Anyone know the latest or opening time frame?
Also, I talked to someone in the admin offices for the company that bought Gifford’s. He said their intent was to get the E St. location back open. I asked him about the eviction notice, and it sounded like they may be struggling to pay the rent since they have been closed so long. I talked to him after I went to two other locations to redeem my Groupon, and they were both closed too (Bethesda & Friendship Heights)! He said they were out of Ice Cream on that particular day, so they had open late. Sounds like they they’re struggling all around.
I stopped by Galileo III last night. what I really liked is that the dining room is quiet. you can hear yourself think! will be checking it our further.
Nice Joe, putting your crappy cardboard signs in the windows in a historic district is quite the touch.
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The old souvenir place at 10th and F is indeed the new Joe’s Souvenir place next to Cowgirl Creamery — good that Cowgirl Creamery has been around for a couple of years; had the souvenir place rented first, we may have had another souvenir row here on F — UGH. Hard to grasp unless one remembers that they owned and leased the building next door to Platinum, but the building owners were surprised that the neighbors are not delighted with the new tenancy.
You might notice some improvements to the interior of the 10th and F souvenir spot from whence Joe came — it will open as a souvenir shop with a wider than typical stock that the owner told me would include Redskins (and other DC teams) T-Shirts; the owner also owns Souvenir World next door.
Next, a new opening. Galileo III officially opened today at 600 14th Street (for old timers in the former Butterfield 9 restaurant’s space and for really old timers in a portion of Garfinckel’s ground floor space). I chatted briefly with Roberto Donna and at greater length with one of his managers. Lunch is a al carte with appetizers int eh $10 to $16 range, pastas running from $18 to $22 and main courses from $21 to $26. For dinner one can choose the $55, $72. or $89 prix-fixe dinner.
We now have some wonderful traditional and nouveau American, Latino, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Italian (the latest trend) restaurants in Penn Quarter with prices ranging from affordable to moderate to upper end. What will be the next trend?