New Signage for Choong Man Chicken on H Street
There appears to be a South Korean fried chicken chain called Choongman Chicken that has similar branding and the same slogan as the signage that has been put up on the building (based upon pictures on the company’s website), so it is possible that the H Street location is going to be the first American location of the chain. More details as we get them.
Old 6th and H Bar and Grill, Future Cava Grill
Future Location of Quara Ethiopian on H Street
It appears that Quara Ethiopian could be opening fairly soon at 818 H Street, NE. Earlier this week, the owner of Quara stopped by the ANC 6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee to discuss the upcoming restaurant. The construction is mostly done, and the hope is for Quara to open relatively soon. The restaurant will be very similar to his existing location on 18th Street, and he described the H Street location as the second location of the existing concept. The restaurant will be open for most of the day including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While the restaurant will serve alcohol, the focus is on the food. They hope to have an entertainment license to be able to have soft Ethiopian music for diners.
Future Edison Building and Trader Joe’s Near Union Market
The Trader Joe’s near Union Market has taken another step forward by applying for a liquor license. The store will be opening on the ground floor of The Edison building (350 Florida Avenue, NE) and was tentatively scheduled to open later this year. The exterior construction of the building is largely complete, although the interior appears to have significant work ahead. According to the liquor license application, the store will be open daily from 8 am until 10 pm.
Yum’s Carry Out on Florida Avenue Now Closed
It appears that Yum’s Carry Out at 416 Florida Avenue, NE has closed for good. The takeout restaurant has been closed for a little while now and the phone number has been disconnected. Eden’s (the dominant Union Market developer) purchased the building back in 2015 and has plans to develop the entire block.
Future Site of Blue Bottle Coffee in Union Market
The Washington Business Journal had previously broken that Blue Bottle Coffee out of California would be opening a store and training facility in Union Market at the intersection of 4th and Morse Streets, NE. Based upon building permits and construction progress, District Cuisine can now confirm that the location will be 1250 4th Street, NE, which is directly north of the new Edison building (a future Trader Joe’s) in Union Market. Construction and renovation on the site is well underway; once completed, it will be two stories.
Future Location of Quara Ethiopian on H Street
According to a revised version of ANC 6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee’s agenda for next week, the Committee will be hearing from representatives of Quara Ethiopian Fusion that will be coming soon to 818 H Street, NE (next door to Mythology). District Cuisine had heard for some time that an Ethiopian restaurant had leased the space but had been unable to confirm details until now. Quara currently operates an Ethiopian restaurant on 18th Street (website and menu here), and this location is from the same owners (ownership of the 18th Street location matches a contact person for building permits at 818 H Street). The building is currently undergoing a major renovation but still has a long way to go. Quara will be joining two current Ethiopian restaurants on the H Street Corridor (Ethiopic and Addis). More details as we get them.
In preparation for tomorrow’s grand opening of the H Street Whole Foods, District Cuisine wanted to provide a video throwback to the demolition of the old H Street Self Storage (best part is at the end of the roughly minute long video). Before Whole Foods and the Apollo building were construction at 6th and H Streets, NE a combination of Murray’s (a grocery store), Good Danny’s, and H Street Self Storage occupied the block.
After several years of construction and anticipation, H Street’s Whole Foods will be opening this Wednesday (pending the snow) at 6th and H Streets, NE in the Apollo Building. The store will open with a bread breaking ceremony at 8:45 in the morning. District Cuisine took a sneak peak of the store over the weekend. The entire building was previously a combination of Murray’s (grocery store), Good Danny’s (Chinese food), and H Street Self Storage.
In addition to the usual Whole Foods offerings, the store will have quite a few locally sourced products ranging from beer to gelato to snacks to pastries. The prepared foods area will also feature a new Chinese diner concept by Maketto owner Eric Bruner-Yang. The second floor of the store will have a bar and will offer beer and wine that can be purchased and then consumed throughout the store or even on the patio outside. For the first week, the store will have several doorbuster deals on products throughout the store.
District Cuisine 