18th Street Goes Off the Chain
Many of our readers are shocked (shocked!) to find out that we at DCist are ardent supporters of independent retail establishments in our fair city. Sometimes we're even capable of overreaction to the threat of national chains on our beloved mom ‘n pops. Remember when so much doom and gloom followed a Washington Post story on the changing nature of retail on Connecticut Ave? But you’ll have to forgive us if each of our hearts hasn’t warmed—just a little bit—to the recent developments on 18th Street, on the few blocks where Dupont careens up into Adams-Morgan.
The three-block strip of 18th spanning from S Street to California Street already teems with established neighborhood spots, from Rosemary's Thyme and Dupont Market on up to Duplex Diner and Cafe L'Enfant (with some Tex-Mex place in between). Now a host of new indie restaurants and shops are joining the fray.
Neighbors have recently noticed the unassuming new storefront of Bobby Lew’s Saloon, a watering hole nestled into the tiny space formerly occupied by Staccato. The pub is a new venture by Bobby Lewis and Martin Corboy and though it just opened last Friday, the little place instantly feels a little shabby. That's potentially a very good thing in a city where the pub scene often has more style than substance. Inside, a PBR mirror, a stuffed buffalo head, and flat screen TV's all share the limited wall space and classic R&B croons from the speakers. If it seems like the bartender is genial enough to run for Congress, he already has. The bar also plans to add a BBQ menu, adding some more diversity to Adams-Morgan eateries.
Fortunately for the neighborhood, Bobby Lew’s is just the most recent example of the wave of openings. Just down 18th, next to Rosemary’s Thyme, is Mandu, a smart little restaurant featuring Korean dishes to complement Dupont’s wealth of Thai eateries (though the food has gotten lukewarm reviews thus far). Just up on the 1900 block, you will soon find a new sushi place called Cherry Blossom, and across the street there's a new chocolatier filling the void of decadent sweets left by the departure of Sticky Fingers for a new space in Columbia Heights. An entire building just north of the Florida/18th/U Street intersection is filling in, bit by stylish bit, led by a chic (and pricey) gym called Mint.
At the opposite end of the pretension scale is the intriguing and humble new Red Onion, a books and music place tucked into a basement on the corner of 18th and T. The selection is pretty sparse so far (as is the website), but judging by the boxes piled high within, owner Josh Harkavy is just getting started. At the very least, it stems the recent tide of record store closures in the city.
Even though it's considered a residential area, the three block stretch now includes over 50 different commercial and office spaces, and my inner-Jane Jacobs loves to rattle off the varied list: a florist, three gyms, a financial services office, a printer, three small grocers, three dry cleaners, two real estate offices, two places for pets, and several bars, take-out, and sit-down restaurants. Most, as Jacobs would note, are starting up in older buildings and less-than-prime retail spaces, since these places usually require lower rents than many of the newer buildings springing up in Logan Circle and up on U Street.
Photo of Bobby Lew's by the author.