Future Home of Wunder Garten at Corner of 1st and L Streets
Wunder Garten (previously 150 M Street, NE and now at the corner of 1st and L Streets NE) will be holding its season preview party this coming weekend. As District Cuisine previously reported, Wunder Garten has inked a deal for a more permanent location in NoMa starting this summer. Their preview party will be Friday and Sunday from 4-10 pm. They hope to be open permanently for the season soon thereafter.
Parking Lot at 1st and L Streets That Will Be Transformed into Wunder Garten
In the coming weeks, the current outdoor daily parking lot at the corner of 1st and L Street will be transformed into the new location of Wunder Garten. The location is the southwest corner of the parking lot, across the street from where the NoMa summer movie series is held at the future site of Storey Park. The NoMa biergarten opened last summer in the vacant lot next to Flats 130 and the NoMa Metro station (150 M Street, NE) but could not stay in that location as it is slated to become an office building in the near future. The popular biergarten spent the fall and winter looking to secure a new and longer term location in the neighborhood. They were successful last week when they signed a lease for the 13,000 square foot location at 1st and L Street that has a multi-year option attached to it.
Side View of Future Wunder Garten Location
Wunder Garten will hopefully open at the end of June or the beginning part of July. As Wunder Garten plans on being in this location for multiple years, the owners will be able to invest even more in the space. The owners will have to obtain a new liquor license as their location has moved. Prior to opening, they will be adding plants and a large tent (that will hopefully allow them to stay open later into the fall) to the lot. The set up will be similar to last year: several German and local beers on draft, rotating food trucks, lots of seating room, and nice portable bathrooms. REI–opening soon in NoMa–held various events at Wunder Garten last year and is looking to have an even bigger presence this year. While Wunder Garten was ultimately unable to allow dogs last year, they will explore the possibility in the new space.
More details on the official opening date as Wunder Garten gets closer to opening!
Good news for NoMa today–Wunder Garten, the beer garden planned for 150 M Street, NE in NoMa, is planning on opening in the month of May. You can see our preview here. Wunder Garten received building permits this month and over the past several days we have noticed light construction activity taking place inside.
Complete press release from NoMa BID:
NoMa Beer Garden Opens in May
WASHINGTON, DC, April 30, 2015 — In May, Wunder Garten beer garden is opening at 150 M Street, NE, just steps from the NoMa/Gallaudet U Metro station. The beer garden will occupy the last parcel in the 2.5 million SF Constitution Square development. The 300-seat venue is styled as a Bavarian beer garden and is a place neighbors and friends can meet, socialize,or take an outdoor education class with REI. The drink menu will feature Bavarian, Austrian, and German beers, as well as regional microbrews. Food will be provided by a rotating selection of the region’s most popular food trucks.
“I’m looking forward to sitting down and having a Hefeweizen with my friends,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, President of the NoMa Business Improvement District. “We’re tickled to combine great outdoor education, craft beers and good food in a fun neighborhood space.”
Wunder Garten is operated by Proust Partners, which is owned by Christopher Lynch (co-owner of L’Enfant Cafe in Adams Morgan) and Biva Ranjeet. Munich native Allon Pultuskier advised on the beer garden’s design and ambiance. The owners have been working with property owner StonebridgeCarras and the NoMa BID over the last year on this initiative.
REI, which is opening a 52,000 SF flagship store in the Uline Arena just a few feet away, will hold free classes at the beer garden on a wide range of topics on how to live a life outside. Whether locals want to learn a new activity or advance their skills, REI will offer its expertise on bike repairs, camping, the best local outdoor destinations and more. REI will also host fun events like presentations from outdoor personalities and celebrations of the local nonprofits that take care of DC’s trails, bike lanes and rivers.
Wunder Garten will use umbrellas and tents to shade benches and tables on the rear of the lot. Decorative landscaping will create a causal and inviting atmosphere and transform a currently unused lot into an urban oasis.
“We are excited to provide an inviting space for the neighborhood and the city to gather, enjoy themselves outdoors, and have a beer,” said Christopher Lynch. “With all the rapid growth in NoMa, bars and recreational spaces were two things we have consistently heard that residents want.”
Operating hours are as follows:
Monday — Thursday: 4 PM to 10 PM
Friday: 12 PM to 12 AM
Saturday: 12 PM to 12 AM
Sunday: 12 PM to 10 PM
For more information, visit wundergartendc.com.
In a promising sign, Wunder Garten–the large proposed outdoor beer garden in NoMa–has applied for an alcohol license. You can read our preview post here.
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