BUSINESS

INS & OUTS

BY ROBERT DEVANEY

IN: GLOVER PARK WHOLE FOODS BY FALL

The Glover Park Whole Foods Market, closed since March 2017, is on track to open very soon. Neighbors routinely ask about it, and various media keep buzzing about the long-anticipated reopening. The Georgetowner asked a Whole Foods representative when the store will reopen and was told a date has not been set.

Real estate agent Chris Jones of Long & Foster, who runs the GloverParkDC blog, enthusiastically chimed a few weeks ago with the schematics to the store plan. “Whole Foods has exciting things coming for shoppers when they open at 2323 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Glover Park in the near future,” Jones wrote. “GloverParkDC.com has obtained the DCRAapproved schematics to the store. Whole Foods officials have been tight-lipped about timing, but their plans reveal some great features for products and technology.”

Jones continued: “The D.C. Regulatory Authority has given its stamp of approval on the attached plans, which include these product offerings: • A 34 seat eat-in bistro with a street-front bar seating area. • Bistro items for eat-in including a fresh pizza counter by the slice or whole pie direct from their oven, sushi, possibly sandwiches, salads and more. • Self-service coffee and espresso machines with pastries • Salad bar, hot bar, cold bar and soup bar • A cookie bar, mochi bar and macaron bar (which every grocery store needs) • A fresh bread slicer • A giant beer and wine section, of course (they have been sitting on their liquor license) • A self-serve juicer”

“Even more exciting is the technology revealed in these plans,” Jones wrote in his blog. “The enrollment kiosks, digital exit screens and self-checkout areas suggest that Whole Foods is leveraging Amazon’s cashierless technology including touchless palm scanning for account ID, and walk-in walk-out technology (Amazon calls it ‘Just Walk Out’) to circumvent checkout similar while expanding the product line to include more flavors of bonbons and making sure our offerings celebrate our new neighborhood,” owner and pastry chef Ashleigh Pearson told The Georgetowner. “Petite Soeur exists to marry my training in France and Michelin restaurant experience with my humble beginnings to create an approachable space with the highest quality fresh chocolates. This business is about in house-made chocolates made by a local chocolatier. We’re looking forward to celebrating our next step!”

An alum of Robert Wiedmaier’s Marcel’s on Pennsylvania Avenue and Thomas Keller’s per se in New York, Pearson added: “Georgetown has such a special place in my heart as my family really got started here while my dad was at Georgetown for med school. Feels very full circle!” Not such a little sister anymore.

Seth Goldman of Honest Tea and PLNT Burger’s Mike Colletti, Spike Mendelsohn and Ben Kaplan. Photo by Evangeline Pergantis/PLNT Burger.

to the Amazon Go experience in a few stores nationwide already. …”

We’re almost there. Whole Foods — owned by Amazon — has been advertising job openings for its Glover Park store, due to open “Fall 2021.”

IN: PLNT BURGER AT SANDLOT GEORGETOWN

Seth Godman of Honest Tea and PLNT Burger’s Mike Colletti, Spike Mendelsohn and Ben Kaplan. Photo by Evangeline Pergantis/ PLNT Burger.

“World domination!” laughed co-founder Spike Mendelsohn, when asked about the goals of PLNT Burger, the plant-based burger, fries and ice cream fast casual restaurant, founded in 2019. D.C. restaurateur Mendelsohn and his partners were at Sandlot Georgetown at 28th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW July 16 for the grand opening of the PLNT Burger food truck, parked through September. They invited family, friends and a couple hundred people to sample the burgers they never call vegetarian. It is the company’s first spot outside its Whole Foods locations. Sandlot Georgetown at 2715 Pennsylvania Ave. NW is a pop-up by Ian Callender, who runs other Sandlots in the city. Open Monday through Saturday, PLNT Burger is a permanent food truck there, along with circulating Blackowned food trucks, supported by Uber Eats.

IN: L. PRIORI JEWELRY SHINES

L. Priori Jewelry officially opened on July 22 at 1002 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Originally from Philadelphia, the team at L. Priori creates “one-of-a-kind experiences and products, responsibly sourcing only the highest quality materials and developing 3-D engineered wax renderings to ensure a timeless piece is created for the customer.” The new shop is accepting appointments. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. Appointments can be made online or by calling 202-758-0545.

IN: PETITE SOEUR, MORE CHOCOLATE IN SEPT.

Petite Soeur Chocolate and Confection Company will be coming to 1332 Wisconsin Ave. NW, the former space of the Dough Jar, in mid-September. “We will be keeping the popular staples from our Dupont Circle popup Talbot Street. Owner Nadir Rehman has lived on 34th Street for 17 years.

The garage entrance of the Whole Foods at 2323 Wisconsin Ave. NW, on Aug. 9. Photo by Sonya Bernhardt.

IN: FP MOVEMENT RUNS TO WISCONSIN AVE.

FP Movement is setting up shop at 1063 Wisconsin Ave. NW, next to the C&O Canal, in the former Onward Reserve men’s clothing store and before that the Pleasure Chest. FP Movement offers Free People’s “athletic and athleisure wear” collection for women, i.e., exercise and workout clothes. (Still thinking about the Olympics?) Headquartered in Philadelphia, Free People is a part of Urban Outfitters, Inc., along with Anthropologie, BHLDN, Terrain and the Vetri family restaurant group. Its line sells in 1,400 specialty stores worldwide.

EVERLANE COMING TO M ST.

The Everlane store will open in the fall at 3259 M St. NW, landlord EastBanc tells us, “and will feature an assortment of fall-ready men’s and women’s clothing including denim, footwear, and sweaters. … Everlane partners with the best ethical factories around the world, sources only the finest materials and works diligently to build a more sustainable supply chain.” The store is in the former Roots space.

2 NEW POP-UPS AT CONCEPT 31/M

At 3077 M St. NW: Fang Yan, founded by Georgetown University and Rhode Island School of Design grads, a collection of Chinese-inspired clothing and accessories; Modern Lusso, Greek-designed clothing, home goods and jewelry.

MOVING: ST. MICHAELS KITCHEN AND BATH (A FEW DOORS DOWN)

We’re talking more than counters here — and, seriously, it is just a few doors down on Potomac Street, near the canal and Blue Bottle Coffee. So, to be clear, St. Michaels Kitchen and Bath/St. Michaels Fine Woodworking and Cabinetry, LLC is now at 1048 Potomac St. NW. The high-quality woodworker and high-end provider, appropriately enough, has its main showroom in St. Michaels on North

Anchyi Wei with owner and founder Lauren Priori. Courtesy L. Priori Jewelry.