To avoid the mad Black Friday rush (or perhaps extend it), some large retailers have come up with a brilliant solution: just open at midnight on Thanksgiving Thursday and let people start shopping then! more ›

The Post's Danielle Douglas provides an update on the leasing activity at DCUSA, and finds that space in and around it, like so many ripe bananas at the building's anchor Target, is going fast. Or at least it is when it comes to national food retailers. more ›

Ellwood Thompson's, the organic grocer who, over the last three years, was rumored to be coming to Columbia Heights, then signed a lease at DCUSA, then delayed its plans indefinitely, then started some construction work, then reportedly bailed on the space and pissed off Jim Graham, then claimed they were working with their landlord to "to make this happen" -- has now admitted that they will not be opening a store in the retail complex along Irving Street NW. more ›

Well, this is certainly interesting: Ellwood Thompson's owner Richard Hood told TBD this afternoon that the grocer's plans to expand into Columbia Heights are not dead, as previously reported. "We are not in default. We continue to work with the landlord to make this happen," Hood told TBD, admitting to some confusion about why Councilmember Jim Graham said that the grocery wasn't coming to the DCUSA complex. Graham had told the Washington City Paper earlier today that not only had the grocer pulled out of its plans, but that Ellwood Thompson's would "pay for this very bad decision." To be honest, based on the way that this story has unfolded over the last three years, this is probably the least surprising thing that could have happened. more ›

UPDATE: Now the owner of Ellwood Thompson's has refuted Graham, stating that the grocer is still working on plans to open at DCUSA. more ›

The long-awaited IHOP, located inside the DCUSA development in Columbia Heights, has officially opened for business. (And yes, we do believe that the easy availability of pancakes at any hour is one of the few acceptable reasons to use all caps in a tweet.) more ›

In an email to the Columbia Heights listserv, Jim Graham buried this little trinket: "Target is opening a full grocery store in July and extra staff is required." Don't bury the lede, Councilmember! Housing Complex confirms: an upcoming renovation at the Target inside DCUSA will allow the big box retailer to be a legitimate grocery option for D.C. residents. Work should begin shortly and the store expects to be finished in October (not July, as Graham said). With Ellwood Thompson's on its way into the same complex and the Giant right around the corner, getting a produce section and increasing dry goods inventory is kind of a no-brainer for Target. For those who shop frequently at the Columbia Heights Giant and now will have a competitor to thin that store's often unbearable lines: it's okay, let out those tears of joy. more ›

Heads up, Columbia Heights. You know that massive, $42 million publicly funded parking lot that's been sitting largely unused underneath the DCUSA shopping center? It could soon be filling up with commuters from Maryland, thanks to a new program being offered by the District government. more ›

Some time ago I asked the DCist writing staff to avoid using the term "hipster" whenever possible. It's a word we all hear and say plenty, but I'm never quite sure what different people really mean by it. Is it just someone who wears skinny jeans and Chuck Taylors? Is it people who compost and keep chickens in their urban gardens? Is any man under 35 who has unusual facial hair a hipster? What's the difference between a scenester and hipster? Are you talking about these people? Or these people? Until I figure out some satisfactory answers, I prefer our writers be more specific about what they really mean. Using "hipster" just seems lazy and vague. more ›

International House of Pancakes is in talks to open a restaurant in the DCUSA development in Columbia Heights, according to the Washington Business Journal. We've witnessed a lot of debate and handwringing in the past about the relative classiness of businesses going in to DCUSA, but surely everyone can agree on Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity. more ›

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”.

Am I the only person in the District of Columbia who actually enjoys Black Friday? more ›

On Friday, desperate, cash-strapped retailers are hoping you'll show up and buy things (at huge markdowns!1!!!1!). It's a national shopping day so special that it has a name and even a web site. Here in D.C., we don't have a ton of destination shopping centers, but we do have a big one that wasn't open this time last year: the DCUSA complex in Columbia Heights. For those of you planning on heading to Target or Marshalls on Friday, DCUSA, the MPD, ANC 1A, WMATA, and Ward 1 D.C. Council member Jim Graham all have your back. more ›

The Columbia Heights News forum is buzzing today with the rumor that Ellwood Thompson's, an organic supermarket based in Richmond, has finally signed a deal for a location in the DCUSA shopping center at 14th and Irving Streets NW in Columbia Heights. The store has been in talks for many months about the location. more ›

Ward 1 D.C. Council member Jim Graham sent the following email out to the Columbia Heights email list just before 1 p.m.: more ›

The developers of the new DC USA shopping center in Columbia Heights are still looking for more high end retail, according to a Washington Business Journal article. DC USA, located at 14th and Irving NW, still has about 80,000 square feet of space to fill, which developers hope to fill partially with fancier fare than the Target, Marshalls and Best Buy already planned for the space. more ›