BUSINESS

from The Georgetowner: June 16, 2021 Issue

EDITORIAL/OPINION

IN: REVELLE ON BOOK HILL

The Revelle Shop pop-up opened last week at 1626 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The ready-to-wear spot makes its run through Sept. 30.

INS & OUTS

BY ROBERT DEVANEY AND KATE OZCYPOK

COMING: LE DIPLOMATE’S STEPHEN STARR PLANS ITALIAN RESTAURANT AT FORMER DEAN & DELUCA SPOT

It looks like a star — oh, make that Starr — restaurant will be coming to Georgetown, and it’s kind of a big deal. Stephen Starr, the restaurateur behind the popular French restaurant Le Diplomate on 14th Street plans to open an Italian eatery and market in the former Dean & DeLuca space on 3276 M St. NW. Starr operates Starr Restaurants, a multi-concept and independent restaurant group that includes more than 30 eateries. He shared the news at the Georgetown-Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission’s June 1 online meeting.

The Starr Group has designs for a “mega Italian concept” with lots of pastas and pizzas and a hearth in the middle for baking — “not super expensive,” he said. The market portion will be 1,000-square-foot Italian market with gelato and espresso, breads, baked goods, fresh veggies and more. Eventually, there may be a wine cellar in the basement. He’s working on getting California-based star chef and baker Nancy Silverton of Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza, both in Los Angeles, Starr added.

“Just calling it an Italian restaurant, I don’t think is doing it justice. It’s going to be an event. It’s going to be a festival of food,” The market building at 3275 M St. NW. Restaurateur Stephen Starr.

Starr told the commissioners and added, “Georgetown I think needs a little bit of a boost, and I think this could be a good little kickstarter.”

“I think it’s great for the neighborhood,” said commissioner Lisa Palmer, whose district includes the Italian eatery. “It’s a signal to other restaurateurs.”

The Georgetown Market building is historic and owned by the D.C. government. Its landlord is Jamestown Properties which also owns Georgetown Park, next to the property. There will be no alterations to the exterior. Approvals still need to be nailed down. Neither opening date nor the name of the restaurant was announced.

IN: FAHERTY COMES TO M

Founded by twin brothers Alex and Mike Faherty, the lifestyle American clothing brand that revolves around the beach has arrived at 3263 M St. NW, just in time for summer. Faherty Brand now has more than ten stores — from Martha’s Vineyard to Malibu — and calls itself “the best boutique for men’s and women’s eco-friendly swimwear and premium casual clothes.”

OUT: ALLSAINTS LEAVES M

London-based fashion retailer AllSaints Spitalfields ended its almost five-year run on 3235 M St. NW. AllSaints sells menswear, womenswear apparel, footwear and accessories in 279 stores across 27 countries.

IN: DESIGNER LIBRARY ON BOOK HILL, TOO

Janine Guerin and Chad Mitchell have opened their first brick-and-mortar location at 1667 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The gallerystyle showroom welcomes clients who are in the market for textiles, wall coverings, lighting, furniture and outdoor fabrics. Designer Library is open to the trade only.

BACK: CAT CAFE OPENS JUNE 26

Closed during pandemic restrictions, the Crumbs & Whiskers cat cafe at 3109 M St., NW will reopen to the public June 26. Along with coffee and playtime, patrons may get to adopt kittens or cats, thanks to rescue group Homeward Trails. Check for available times.

PROPOSED: BEER GARDEN AT LATHAM HOTEL SITE

A beer garden has been proposed for 3000 M St. NW, the site of an officially “blighted property,” where Le Madeleine Bakery & Cafe once stood in front of the former Latham Hotel. “Villa Services, a D.C. real estate developer, is pitching a 300+ seat beer garden,” according to UrbanTurf, which added food trucks might also be involved as well as movies projected on the empty walls.

“For far too long the space at 3000 M St. NW has been neglected and been an eyesore in our otherwise historic and beautiful neighborhood,” Villa Services said in a statement to D.C.’s Historic Preservation Office. “We have been in talks with Thor Equities for over a year now to activate this site.” Happy 30th Anniversary! Maziar and Shahab Farivar. Photo by Philip Bermingham.

ANNIVERSARY: HAPPY 30TH, PEACOCK CAFÉ!

A Georgetown favorite, Peacock Café, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Now at 3251 Prospect Street, the restaurant was opened by brothers Shahab and Maziar Farivar in 1991 as a six-seat restaurantcarryout without a real stove or kitchen, ahead of its time with healthful sandwiches and gourmet coffee, just down the street from its present location near the glitzy likes of Morton’s steak house and Cafe Milano.

The brothers Farivar are a classic American success story. They immigrated to the United States at a young age, sent here from Iran by their parents who would join them later in the wake of the Iranian revolution that toppled the Shah in the 1970s.

Manager Shahab knows and charms his patrons, and chef Maziar continues his award-winning dishes, highlighted at James Beard Foundation Dinners and the U.S. State Department.

Peacock Café offers its contemporary American cuisine with a cosmopolitan twist, along with a varied wine selection in a sleek space with outdoor seating. There’s something for everyone.

And everyone from frontline workers and your neighbors to Hillary Clinton and Gal Gadot have been there, including the entire staff of The Georgetowner, past and present. Happy 30th, Peacock!