Former DCist Editor Rob Goodspeed had a terrific post up over at his own site last week which asks an important question: Where are all the retail outlets that were supposed to go in the Washington Convention Center?

Three years after the opening of the new Washington Convention Center, only three businesses are open among the building’s 11 community retail spaces on 7th, 9th, and N Streets — Abou Master Goldsmith, Capitol Business Center, and Enterprise Car Rental. In addition to the three open business, four more have signed leases but have not yet opened – Euro Market, Divine Cravings Bakery, Old Dominion Brewery, and J. Sumner Salon. Four more retail spaces remain vacant, awaiting prospective tenants.

The “coming soon” signs have been up for literally years now, and the area could use some more retail, especially places to eat. Besides the spots in the building itself, there are only a few islands of retail around the battleship of the convention center — a Subway, the Warehouse Theater, a couple coffee shops, a pet spa, and an upscale liquor store are about the only businesses on the 7 blocks that face the CC. The rest are abandoned or seemingly unused buildings. And some of the few businesses that tried to open further up 9th, such as Vegetate and BeBar, had some well-publicized opposition from local churches over their liquor licenses. With a little imagination, one could picture the boarded up buildings on 9th Street as another 18th Street or U Street, but that seems to be a long way away.

One wonders why the people who raised a fuss about a lack of retail space when the building was proposed aren’t making much noise about the lack of retail now. A few of the spots within the convention center itself have window decals up, but Goodspeed has a convention center spokesperson attributing the delay to various construction difficulities. As for the brewery, which we are especially looking forward to, an Old Dominion spokesperson said “it’s going rather slowly” and the franchise owner never returned calls to clarify. The delay is nothing new, however — Goodspeed points out a Washington Post report that the brewery would open in Summer 2005, more than a year ago. There were workmen in the brewery’s location this weekend, however.

Of course, retail can’t be forced to open, and it’s possible the area just hasn’t yet reached critical mass for retailers to rush opening their stores. That seems hard to believe, however, as the owners must be eating rent in the meantime with no immediate hope for revenue. Perhaps there needs to be some pressure put on whatever it is that’s causing the delays. With all the condo projects right next to the convention center, like the Whitman at 9th and M, as well as the booming construction along Mass Ave and in the Mt. Vernon Triangle, it seems like some retail development certainly ought to be coming to the area. One of these years.

Photo by Rob Goodspeed

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