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In a press release and message posted to their company blog today, Richmond-based organic grocer Ellwood Thompson's announced that their planned expansion to the DCUSA development in Columbia Heights is on hold, seemingly indefinitely.
Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market announced today that they have delayed their plans for expansion to the Washington D.C.. Citing the slowing economy, the company will not open a store at the DCUSA project this fall as originally planned. “We are disappointed that we can’t move ahead with our plans at this time” stated Rick Hood, owner of the company. “We believe that DCUSA in Columbia Heights is an excellent location choice and are eager to serve this community, which is a perfect fit for our products and philosophy. However, with this delay we are acting prudently to keep our company sound during these difficult times for retailers. We continue to work with DCUSA on a timetable to locate there”.
We're still waiting to hear back from company spokesperson Cyndi Watkins with some more details on what happened. Signs have been up in the windows of the section of the DCUSA building intended for the grocery store for months, but almost no visible work has been completed in building out the space.
UPDATE: We were able to chat briefly with Watkins about the fate of the Columbia Heights store. Bottom line: Ellwood Thompson's still has a lease with DCUSA, which the company can't pull out of, so the space will remain empty for the time being while they continue to pay the rent.
"We just don't have the funds to do the construction right now," she said. No new timeline is in place for when the grocer might be able to resume its plans for the store: all they are able to say now is that it definitely won't be opening this fall.
"It's honestly dependent on our sales picking up," Watkins said, noting that the Richmond store is barely breaking even right now. "The company is really exited about moving in to [D.C.], but we've got to look after the employees that we've got here."
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oh god, there are going to be people jumping from the roofs of the condo buildings up there when they hear this...
The story behind how developers get development rights in DC is a fascinating mix of racebaiting, political patronage, and elaborate venn diagrams of kickbacks and slush funds. Check out the Columbia Heights listserv archives, pre-DCUSA. It's amazing none of these people have served jail time.
I walked past that place last night and wondered if that project would be 86'd. Personally, I think it would have been a epic fail b/c with Harris Teeter so close and with free parking, I think many people would not have gotten up there or would have kept to the Giant.
This is really terrible news. Now the Whole Foods petition people are going to start that debate all over again because 2 miles is too far to travel.
Actually, I think they got a call from Greenpeace saying to stop bitin' their font/color scheme.
Well, 2 miles is too far to walk.
I'm not jumping from a roof, but I am disappointed. Another reason to look forward to CSA delivery starting, I guess.
Well, 2 miles is too far to walk.
I'm not jumping from a roof, but I am disappointed. Another reason to look forward to CSA delivery starting, I guess.
tragedy!
That is disappointing news! Although I'm fine with shopping at Giant for most of my basic grocery needs, it would have been nice to have an alternative for higher-quality ingredients, organic/free-range products, and they were going to have a cafe with outdoor seating that would have enlivened that bland stretch of sidewalk.
And, all that hype about it makes it especially deflating - the fancy architectural drawings, the email campaign with the community, the announcements of letters of intent and lease signings, the signage in the windows - all down the drain.
Maybe we can get a Post Office in there, or a Trader Joe's. :)
Or an Arbys.
Enough w/ the bloody Arby's already. What's next, a Chipo...nevermind.
Shame such a central location will remain vacant. Just a stone's throw away from all the action in Columbia Heights.
I agree. Empty store front for a year or longer? Lame.
I totally agree. This is crap. I think they should just break their lease and forget about it, because from what I remember they were pretty hesitant about the idea to begin with. So screw it. I think they should either put in a Post Office, Chipotle, or Nando's. I'd be equally as happy at this point.
Level the floor, turn on a few lights, and open up the space as a roller rink.
Whatever happened to the person who was endlessly clamoring for a kite store in Columbia Heights? This would be an excellent spot for an upscale kite boutique.
Tootie, would that be Ned Flanders or was he going to put in anther Leftorium?
Can they put a temporary Farmers Market in there?
I'd rather walk to Harris Teeter than the 14th street Giant. I'd rather ride the bus to Trader Joes than go to the Columbia Road Safeway.
The cashiers at Trader Joes have more intelligence and are very fast. The cashiers at Giant and Safeway always seem confused by items such as Tofu and Soy Milk. There could be 40 people in line at Trader Joes but I'll be out of there in 5 minutes. There could be 7 people in line at the Giant or Safeway and I'll still be in line 40 minutes later.
I would love to see a Trader Joes move in to that location but this is unlikely since they did not bite while the economy was going full tilt. Anything useful at this point to fill the void of the empty storefront would do. One thing that would be amazing is an urgent care center. DC could really use one. They'd be able to pay the rent quickly.
"The company is really exited about moving in to [D.C.], but we've got to look after the employees that we've got here."
Oh, they're exited, alright, real exited.
I'm just amazed that people get so wound up about this. Haven't you all heard about Peapod? Screw shopping.
So, another place for beardie weirdies who drink beer made from twigs bies the dust. And this is news?
Personally, I think it'd be a perfect place for "Meat-O-Rama" to open a new store. I'm running low on their beef tallow shoe polish and pork-flavored toothpaste. Plus, their meat on a stick on a stick is to die for...
Or better yet, how about a bakery that specializes in...wait for it.... CUPCAKES!!!! Now THAT would be new and novel!!
Screw cupcakes. . . it's all about frozen yogurt now. The yogurt is cursed.
But you get sprinkles!
The sprinkles are also cursed.
Never mind, we'll go with a hammock store instead.
~EEE~
I just wanted to clarify some of the comments reported surrounding the delay of Ellwood Thompson’s DCUSA project. Ellwood Thompson’s did sign a lease on the DCUSA site but the specifics of how to handle our lease have yet to be determined. We very much want to open a store at the DCUSA location and hope to be a part of the Columbia Heights community, but as a result of the slowing economy at this point we simply must wait on our DC expansion. Ellwood Thompsons continues to be a strong company financially in Richmond VA.
I just wanted to clarify some of the comments reported surrounding the delay of Ellwood Thompson’s DCUSA project. Ellwood Thompson’s did sign a lease on the DCUSA site but the specifics of how to handle our lease have yet to be determined. We very much want to open a store at the DCUSA location and hope to be a part of the Columbia Heights community, but as a result of the slowing economy at this point we simply must wait on our DC expansion. Ellwood Thompsons continues to be a strong company financially in Richmond VA.
Stop feeding BS. If you're store in Richmond is barely breaking even, how do you stand a chance of surviving in a place that will require double your current operations?