April 21, 2006
Chinatown To Remain Without Grocery Store
Chinatown may have a new movie theater, a bowling alley, the Verizon Center, Hooters and a lot of new stylish apartment buildings, but it doesn't have a supermarket. And given the news today, that won't change anytime soon.
WJLA is reporting that gourmet grocery store Balducci's has decided not to locate a store in the popular neighborhood, opting instead to improve their existing locations. The article notes that Safeway is planning a store at Fifth and K Streets NW, though no opening date has been set.
We've recently realized that we spend a good amount of time writing and reporting on supermarkets. For better or for worse, they seem to reflect the state of the neighborhood they're in -- the people, the real estate market, the diversity. And the last year has been a big one for supermarkets in the District. Harris Teeter has considered three locations throughout the city (Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill and H Street NE) and Safeway has undertaken serious renovations at many of their stores, effectively putting to rest the longstanding designation of some stores as "Soviet" Safeway. Giant has even started building a new store in Ward 8, a victory for neighborhoods long deprived of good shopping options.
Everyone seems to be living large. Well, everyone except those in Chinatown. Thank God for Peapod.
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Oh, I was excited that Balducci's was mvoing in. That's it. Now I refuse to move to Chinatown.
More like Penn Quarter - the space is right across the street from Jaleo, Shakespeare Theatre and Olssons
It's been confirmed that Trader Joe's is setting up shop on M Street near G-Town. I'm sure that's been covered on DCist somewhere, but that doesn't mean I can't get excited whenever I think about it.
This news is the suckiest suck that ever sucked! I was SOOO looking forward to grazing, picking up food on the way home, etc. Bad, bad news - and a foolish move on Balducci's part as they would have made a s***load of money there.
Rumor has it that Whole Foods is heading in to the Eastern Market area at 8th and M Street plus another Harris Teeter on H Street.
The interesting news here concerns Balducci's -- the chain is imploding (note the many senior staff departures over the past few months and the fact that they have begun closing stores elsewhere). Frankly, this is the best case scenario under the circumstances. Balducci's essentially built out the store interior and has made the space far more appealing to other, BETTER (i.e., chains not at risk of closing in 6 months) specialty grocers. FWIW, a VERY reliable source has told me that Trader Joe's -- which is opening its Foggy Bottom store in June/July -- as well as other similar stores are more than a little interested in locating there. Relax Penn Quarter, the space will not be vacant for long...
That Trader Joe's in Foggy Bottom was supposed to open in January. They still haven't signed a lease. Don't hold your breath.
FYI
Trader Joe's has signed the lease in Foggy Bottom -- check out today's edition of the Washington Business Journal for proof, if you need it. Any delays with that project have been caused by the usual construction/gov't nonsense.
Nothing will ever top Dean and Deluca in Georgetown.
What? No. What is better than Balducci's -- that delicate balance of upscale goods and cooking staples. Dean and Deluca is a boutique, a speciality shop. Well if Trader Joe's come in instead I'll be happy. IMHO Harris Teeter is on part with a gussied up Giant. No thanks.
Yeah, I second that Dean and Deluca comment. It's appealing as all that, but it's expensive as all that too. Last weekend I dropped 28 bucks just trying to buy a lunch there.
It's interesting to read about how DC used to have these huge markets around town. They were called Central Market (at Penn around 5th), Western Market (on K around 19th), Northern Market (not sure where that was), and, of course, Eastern Market. There may have been a southern market too, but I can't remember.
Balduccis was not suppose to be coming to Chinatown - I don't know why you feel like broadening the radius further. If you are vehemently opposed to referring to it as Penn Quarter at least refer to it as Downtown.
And Balducci's is affordable? Please folks what planet are you all living on? There is no reason that we shouldn't demand the same quality of foods and ingredients from a major, unionized grocery store. In areas that have a strong foodie culture (and not one that is just relegated to a small socio-economic group) Safeway, Albertson's or wherever is just as strong as Whole Foods. Only in DC would people feel they shouldn't have to mix with the commoners to get groceries.
It's interesting to read about how DC used to have these huge markets ...
There were two large "Northern Markets." The
Northern Liberty Market was at 5th & K NW. The Northern Market was at 7th & O NW.
Hey DC1974. Balducci's is far from a bargain but its value for money. I don't know what 'foodie culture' region you're talking about. I lived in New Orleans for five years, pre-Katrina, and the swill sold at the big box stores was as bad as it is here, including produce, meats, fish, etc..
Those same big box stores offer processed, over-sugared, artificially pumped up everything and I don't want it. I don't see Safeway or Giant bending over backwards to supply me with much and I'm not interested in buying a few niche items to fund their romance with Tyson Chicken, etc..
How dare you run that BS about 'us' mixing with the commoners. Please.
Has work begun on the Adams Morgan Harris Teeter yet? I shop at the location in Pentagon City on occasion, and it's definitely a step above the average Safeway.
Personally, I like going to farmer's markets to get my produce, dairy and eggs. Not only is it fresher and less processed, but it is priced fairly competitively (amazing what happens when you cut out the middleman) and far less fuel and other non-renewable resources are expended to get it from the farm to my belly.
They should put in an all-underground They should tear down the new Convention Center and put in a Wegmans.
blast! stupid laptop! please disregard the first seven words of my last post. why can't you edit these?
Some anger over on GPLiving.
Yes, work on the Adams Morgan Harris Teeter started back in February. The only thing they seem to be doing so far though is digging out a ton of dirt as well as some slight work on the outside. I really don't see it looking like the pictures here (http://esocoff.com) by Fall 2006 though.
Kraplana,
The Harris Teeter in Adams Morgan (17th & Kalorama) is scheduled to open sometime this Fall.
They must have wanted a liquor license and the churches in Shaw decided it was too close to their early childhood center.
I am so glad I live in Logan Circle with good old Whole Foods.
Harris Teeter, as far as I know, has still not signed on to the Adams Morgan location. A rumor is circulating that Whole Foods may, in fact, open a store at the location once slated for the Teeter, but I think that's a false rumor (esp. given its proximity to the P Street location).
The Harris Teeter is definitely moving into the Citadel location in Adams Morgan. They've been working on it for a few months and just put up a Harris Teeter sign last week. They have some mockups of the design here: esocoff.com.