Latest on Ellwoods

bogfrog · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject:

ben - yeah, that would be a bummer, a 7-E right across the street from Petworth Liquors. But at least I could stop and pick up coffee en route to work in the morning!

steveg202 · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:53 am Post subject:

We're about to celebrate the 6 month anniversary of the beginning of negotiations. I'm ready to eat there, gosh darnit. If they sign soon, we could shopping here in the Spring.

GforGood · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 606

I thought Ellwoods has been negotiating way longer than that.. it certainly feels like it at least. And once they have a deal I fear it will take them FORVEVER to get it built and open (their assessment of 6 months sounds optimistic). Look at the Yes! market at 14th and V... has been saying "Coming this Spring" since last fall...

GforGood · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 606

I thought Ellwoods has been negotiating way longer than that.. it certainly feels like it at least. And once they have a deal I fear it will take them FORVEVER to get it built and open (their assessment of 6 months sounds optimistic). Look at the Yes! market at 14th and V... has been saying "Coming this Spring" since last fall...

New2CH · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 651 Location: Park Road

They expressed interest well over a year ago, but it is the six month anniversary of when we first heard they were "weeks away" from finalizing the lease. Not sure what the story is -- but if DCCH and/or DCUSA are being sticklers about a few nagging points, I would be really, really, really pissed. The community wants this store, badly, and the taxpayers have subsidized the garage and put up with years of noise and construction -- if greed is preventing this store from being fast tracked, I would be very, very upset. Anyone have any insight into what exactly the stickings points keeping this lease from being signed? It seems like efforts to fill the other vacancies (I counted about a dozen small vacancies and two large ones) are also at a standstill ... any update on the wings place? potential pho place? desi's chicken? These still happening? How about any other possibilities? I am starting to think rents may be unrealistically high in light of the current economy ...

Melissa · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

most of the other vacant spaces are under the control of the Columbia Heights Dev Corporation as set asides for small/local/minority owned spaces. the problem is that in this current market, its a trememdous amount of investement for a small business to make to build out their spaces even at subsidized rents. Also, and I am sure CHDC means well, they are just in over their heads. They have NO info on their website, done no outreach etc. This city always assumes that any community non-profit is qualified and the fact is, most are not to handle this type of marketing and retail.
I would email CM Graham on this asap. If enough people in the community let him know, maybe he will be more proactive in getting the marketing guys on top of this or at least getting DHCD to do their job. This whole project was his "baby" to begin with and maybe he needs to know how frustrated the community is with the lack of progress, retail mix and available information.
I worry that the longer these sites are empty, the more desperate the marketing will get so that "anything is better than nothing" mentality prevails.

GforGood · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 606

Melissa, good insight. Just one thing: I think their interpretation of "local" is quite liberal, as I recall (my memory may wrong though) them quoting Quizno's as one of the potential beneficiaries of those lower rent spaces for local business....

New2CH, I would be too. To be fair though it could equally be Ellwoods that is, realising that DCUSA may be getting desperate, holding to unrealistic demands. Hard to say without being a fly (on the wall).

Melissa · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

I think that as long as a chain was locally owned as a franchise then it qualifed. Kind of defeats the purpose though in getting more unique retail . It just seems that we still have so much space and no word on anything new that makes me worry....
and yeah, an old navy would have done phenomenal at this location. Maybe in 5 years (which is typical retail lease for a small space I beleive), we will have another chance of different kinds of retail.
again, I would really urge people to contact Graham.

Melissa · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

I just found out from someone connected to DCUSA that Ellwoods has finally signed a lease for their space on Irving Road. No other details other than it could take at least 6-9 months to open. They are building an elevator in their space directly down to the parking garage among other buildout issues.

ben · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:29 am Post subject:

Let me be the first to say: w00t.

Melissa, thanks for the info. That's good news. It will be nice to have a shop in the neighborhood that actually gives a shit about things like not wrecking the planet, and actually does something about it.

GforGood · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 606

OH YEAH OH YEAH OH YEAH OH YEAH BAAAABBYYYYY!!! FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I don't get exited easily but when I do.. Very Happy

dcdude · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

ben,

Ellwood Thompson is a private for-profit corporation. I assure you, they do not give a shit about not wrecking the planet. All that they know is that they can make money off of people like you, who actually have the disposable income to care about such things.

GforGood · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 606

You are probably both right. And wrong.

DCDireWolf · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 542

Many of you know that I am often anti-development, but I will say as a former Richmonder, ET has always been a very good neighbor in the community. I expect them to be a responsible employer and business here in DC as well.

awiseman · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Columbia Hts

Melissa, do you mean Park Road or Irving Street?