July 10, 2007
Jim Graham's Targets Offered Refuge in Ward 5
The pattern has become almost predictable -- if violence breaks out somewhere in Ward 1, you can bet D.C. Council member Jim Graham will find the closest bar or restaurant, call it a "magnet for --------- (enter violent incident here)" and try to shut it down. Sometimes Graham's crusades are welcome, other times they are excessive. Graham last focused his energies on Joe’s Steak ’N Eggs, an eatery on 9th Street NW that was the victim of an early-morning shooting in late June. After the usual round of threats from Graham, the eatery's owner, Joe Vamboi, voluntarily closed his doors.
But not all hope is lost for Vamboi.
Seeing an opportunity, an ANC Commissioner in Ward 5 has offered businesses closed down by Graham the chance to open in another location -- in Ward 5, to be exact. In both a press release and a blog, ANC 5C-02 Commissioner Kris Hammond has welcomed Graham's "economic refugees" to the fast-improving stretch of North Capitol Street between New York Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue. Hammond writes:
Joe is an economic refugee, a symptom of an overbearing and compassionless District of Columbia government...Councilman Graham and others in the community seem to believe that businesses exist at the pleasure of government and that no evidence of wrongdoing is needed to close a restaurant on account of violent crimes committed against its customers...The North Capitol Street corridor between New York Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue welcomes business owners with an entrepreneurial spirit. While starting a new business in Eckington-Bloomingdale is not an easy task, residents will welcome responsible business owners with open arms—and will open a dialogue if concerns arise.While states and countries regularly battle each other to attract large businesses, it's not often that the competition gets as local as this. But there is some merit to Hammond's proposal. After all, the Bloomingdale/Eckington area along North Capitol Street is seeing some signs of life with the recent opening of Big Bear Cafe, the Bloomingdale Farmers Market and the continuing rumors that the owner of Cafe Saint-Ex is looking at an old firehouse on North Capitol Street and Quincy Street as the location for a new restaurant, EC-12.
Could Joe's Steak 'N Eggs be next?
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can we move joe's into the borf house? that would be a good start.
I think this is disgusting. D.C must stop targeting business because of crime. Crime should be prevented by the police not businesses. If someone gets shot or stabbed in/near the Metro do will the government try and shut that down.
If DC is serious about bringing new businesses to the city, then they should stop persecuting the ones that are already here.
Joe needs to get his ass over to H Street NE STAT. The breakfast at Rib Tip is alright, but steak ain't on the menu. And the bar crowd needs a decent sitdown place to grab some greasy food on Saturday nights.
Hell, who'm I kiding? He's already priced out of that neighborhood. And by the time Joe moved in, the locals would want him to turn the place into a Belgian lambic biergarden and upscale cruelty-free organic tofu hut. Yet another victim of Saint Ex syndrome.
The rib tip already closed down. Us H Streeters are waiting on our moules and frites, thank you very much
Hold on! You guys obviously don't know anything about Joes (I grew up and live near it). It hasn't been a restarant for normal people for years. Its more like a DC Bada-Bing. If that ANC Commissioner wants it, please take it. Some of our U street gangs just might follow you to ward 5 - and I hope thats true.
Ward 5 is sort of a creepy place.
Damn. Rib Tip folded. Maybe Joe's Steak N Eggs can move over there. I'd settle for a Steak and Shake even. Actually, I'd settle for the two kids from Good Burger beating eachother to death with tire irons.
Seems like a transitional neighborhood like Eckington, where property values are low compared to Shaw, would be a good move for Joe. Actually, he should move to Ivy City next to the strip clubs. Hell, he should turn the place INTO a strip club. Nothing enhances a dining experience quite like a pair of thong-split asscheeks slapping together at 80 beats per minute.
ward 5 is a little too big and diverse to call it much of any one thing, 2:46 PM guest. you've got eastern shaw all the way to fort lincoln. it's urban to suburban to rural all in one ward.
On the EC-12 Firehouse Rumor:
Mike Benson of Cafe Saint Ex and Bar Pilar has been reduced to a consultant from a partner in the deal. He is busy opening up a cool bar in Chapel Hill (while still owning the DC ones).
NextGen Development is the developer. They have been selected by the Deputy Mayor's Office on Planning and Econ. Dev. to purchase the old firehouse through an RFP. The Firehouse went through the council procedures to be declared surplus property. The purchase hasn't been finalized yet, which is frustrating to the excited neighbors, but when it is, it will be renovated to historic standards and it will be a large bar/club/restaurant with some studio space set aside for live performances/shows to be broadcast on XM.
Hopefully the Deputy Mayor's Office is pushing to get NextGen Development to move on this thing.
Big Bear is cool. You need a cool bar. White bohemians are the most genial. All inclusive. They love black music. How many hip black kids can say they love Simon and Garfunkel and not get their a##es kicked?
Anyone who defends "Joe" is an idiot! I live in the same property square (361) right around the corner and this place is plagued by drugs and violence. Oh I guess it is a police problem. NO NO NO. Any RESPONSIBLE business owner would shew away this crowd. If you doubt this, if they happen to reopen come back 3 months later and actually check out what goes on here. Unless you live and the corner from this crap, keep your poor business owner attitude and BS to yourself.