WDCEP Highlights Retail & Restaurant Opportunities along Rhode Island & New York Avenues

Written by on August 7, 2013

The Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) conducted a retail and restaurant site tour on Thursday, July 11th, exhibiting the abundant opportunities for new and existing businesses and startups to broaden their horizons and embark upon the developing Ward 5 neighborhood of the District. Site selectors, local business owners, and real estate brokers alike were accompanied by representatives of the District government to identify developing locations to start and grow businesses.

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The tour passed through locations along New York and Rhode Island Avenues, and featured speakers like Steve Boyle of Union Market, Patrick Klain of Hecht’s warehouse district, Kyle Todd of RI Main Street, Mike Henehan of Monroe Street Market, Andre Byers of the Greet Streets Initiative, and Michael Friedman of Red Hen Restaurant. The speakers talked to current and prospective business owners about the integration of office space, food, and residential life as future projects for the areas. A variety of living and working spaces, along with retail and restaurant options, were premiered in the tour in attempts to encourage the migration of a younger, growing population to the area. In addition to the encouragement of drawing a younger population, the speakers emphasized that they were aiming to target families through the developing small grocery stores, yoga studios, taverns, and other family needs.

The tour passed through 48 different areas overall, highlighting business opportunities along the way, and giving a brief synopsis of each area’s economic history and plans moving forward. Some of the major developments covered during the tour include:

  • Washington Gateway (New York & Florida Avenues, NE)
  • Hecht’s Warehouse (1404-1545 New York Avenue, NE)
  • Union Market (Florida Avenue & 6th Street, NE)
  • Maurice Electric (500 Penn Street, NE)
  • Point At Arboretum (New York & Montana Avenue, NE)
  • Shops At Dakota Crossing (South Dakota & New York Avenues, NE)
  • Brookland Square (2711 13th Street, NE)
  • Monroe Street Market (600-700 Monroe Street, NE)
  • Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center (514-680 Rhode Island Avenue, NE)
  • The Mint (329 Rhode Island Avenue, NE)
  • Rhode Island Row (2300 Washington Place, NE)

The tour handout and notes can be downloaded from WDCEP’s Neighborhood Retail/Restaurant Tours page.

The WDCEP, in coordination with the DMPED, will be conducting future tours in other neighborhoods throughout the District. For more information about opening a business in the District, contact Daour Diawara, Manager of Business Development at the Washington, DC Economic Partnership at ddiawara@wdcep.com or 202.661.8673.

Posted Under: DC News