As we first reported in our newsletter, the former Van Ness Burger King is heading for demolition. The raze application filed with the District does not appear to be tied to an imminent sale of the property, which has been on the market for several months.
MOM’s Van Ness opening now even more official: A few days after we reported the opening date had appeared on the MOM’s website, the company put out a press release confirming that the store is indeed opening on Friday, April 4th, and that five percent of its sales through Sunday, April 6th will be donated to the Plastic Pollution Coalition and Earth Conservation Corps. Its grand opening has been eagerly anticipated by the community since 2021, when MOM’s Organic Market secured the lease at 4250 Connecticut Avenue. At the time, the company was projecting a summer 2022 opening.
Clearly opening soon: The Whale Tea, at 4340 Connecticut, now has plantings out front and a new sign over the door. A recent peek inside revealed a mostly complete interior, including wall decor. A peek online revealed a website: thewhaleteadc.com with hours and an online orders page.
An offer for fired federal and NGO workers: From Washington Photo Safari, a Forest Hills-based photography training academy offering hands-on field instruction: “WPS is offering a 20% Safari Discount to laid-off Federal and NGO Employees/Contractors!”
WPS founder E. David Luria has been in their shoes. “The same thing happened to me about 30 years ago when funds to our nonprofit international organization got reduced by the Congress and my own job was eliminated after a 34-year career. Almost 60 years old at the time, I felt it would be hard to get back into the same field, and so I took up my hobby of photography, took several photo courses, and made it my profession.”
Luria recommends WPS’s six-month “So Ya Wanna Be a Photographer” course for beginning and intermediate level hobbyists. Hobbyists who are more skilled are also welcome to try WPS classes, and Luria has additional recommendations. For more information, contact him at 202-669-8468 or at [email protected].
Calvert Woodley’s “Beermudgeon” on the Trump tariffs: When CW beer buyer Jon Brandt wrote to customers on March 7th, much about the tariffs’ scale and focus was unknown. Brandt warned, however, that “[the] strong likelihood is that any tariffs will result in higher costs, which will necessitate higher prices.”
“Our commitment to you is this: We will do our best to hold the line on price increases. We will not raise prices simply because uncertainty is in the air. But if our costs increase, we will need to review our prices.”
Signs point to lower egg prices: Which would come as a relief to Bread Furst. The bakery’s general manager told NBC4 in late February that its egg costs had more than doubled since last year. Bread Furst was eating most of the added cost, but it uses about a thousand eggs every day, so was forced to raise prices on “egg-heavy items.”
“The culinary equivalent of a long hug”: The Washington Post picked its soup faves, and Pho 14 (4201 Connecticut) is on the list.
March restaurant deals: Nash and Smashed (5030 Connecticut) has been inviting people to break their Ramadan fasts on Fridays this month with free fried chicken or chicken sandwich meals. The offer is valid from 6 to 7:30 p.m., or until 150 free meals are served. Other conditions may apply. And Thai Pad (4481 Connecticut) is offering a 15% discount on $40-plus takeout and delivery orders placed via its website.
Now part of the brunch crowd: Rosedale (4465 Connecticut). Here’s the menu.
The UDC Van Ness farmers market opens earlier this year: And we’re referring to the date – April 12th – not the hours. It’s also extending its season into early December. The UDC market’s new student manager is Rolfe Taber Merren. Taber has a business administration background and hails from El Porvenir, Honduras, a city known for its fishing and agriculture. He is working toward an MBA in international business.
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Michael Chorost says
So helpful to have these updates!
Paul says
Where do shoppers at Mom’s new location in Van Ness park? Is there off-street parking in that building?
FHC says
4250 Connecticut has an underground garage (accessible via Windom Place) but it’s never been open to the general public before now. When MOM’s and UDC announced the lease in 2021, they said there would be 85 parking spots for MOM’s customers.
Paul says
Prominent signage for MOM’s parking is now visible off Connecticut and over the garage entrance.