We’ve known for the last year that famous Georgetown eatery Nathan’s wasn’t long for its current location. Owner Carol Joynt has been pretty open about her plans to relocate by April 2009, when her lease runs out. Since then, speculation as to what kind of business will nab the prime spot on what’s seen as the toney neighborhood’s most important intersection has been a popular topic. This morning, an alert tipster pointed us to this tidbit, which suggests that an Apple Store might be eying the space.

Apple is now finalizing a real estate deal for a flagship store on what’s called “the best corner of the most powerful city in the world,” at Wisconsin and M Street NW in the city’s Georgetown area. The space at 3501 M Street NW is now occupied by the legendary Nathan’s Restaurant, a Zagat-rated, wood-paneled hang-out for those who crave American classic cuisine. The restaurant’s lease expires in April 2009, and the operation will vacate before year’s end, leaving a 2,500 square-foot lot for Apple to develop.

Is it true?

“News to me and my lawyers at Williams & Connolly,” Joynt said. “What I’d last heard was that it would be T-Mobile. [Developer] Herb Miller called to say he’d heard rumors that Apple was interested, but my landlords have told us nothing. In the past six months they have fielded offers from CitiBank, Juicy Couture, Verizon, Commerce Bank, any number of fast food chains.”

This doesn’t necessarily mean the rumors aren’t true, however. In the meantime, we’ll keep digging around to find out more. If it happened, it would be the first Apple Store within the District — though other flagship stores exist in nearby Arlington, Tysons Corner and Bethesda.