Soapstone Market co-owner John Fielding (right) serves customers.
A lot has changed since we surveyed readers four years ago about the kinds of retail the neighborhood needs and wants at Van Ness.
Many of you wanted a bakery. Now we have Bread Furst. Thai Pad and Laliguras have all opened since the survey and have added more of the global flavor respondents requested. Soapstone Market checks a lot of boxes: A neighborhood tavern, late night hangout, deli. Sfoglina has become a fine dining destination.
A recent Van Ness Main Street newsletter reveals that our Main Street, UDC, and 4250 Connecticut Avenue owner Bernstein Management are supporting the development of a retail study for Van Ness. It’s currently under way, and VNMS says “[t]he study will help us meet the community’s goal of creating a stronger retail market in Van Ness by maximizing the retail potential, needs, and desires of our diverse constituencies.”
(To subscribe to Van Ness Main Street’s occasional newsletters, email [email protected].)
In four years, how much have the Van Ness constituencies’ “retail potential, needs and desires” changed? Many of the food needs and desires are now covered. What’s still missing? Our old survey saw a lot of interest in gifts, clothing, housewares, hardware and office supply stores. And the most popular request of them all: a Trader Joe’s.
At some point we’ll see what the pros doing the current study can tell us about what Van Ness wants and can support. Until then, we thought it would be fun to ask the question: Does Van Ness still want a Trader Joe’s?
If the embedded survey doesn’t load, you can also find it here.
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Maggie Boys says
I didn’t answer the second question bc I think I’d be happy with anything that comes. My needs are practically met with all the wonderful things that have happened in our neighborhood. I’m supportive of the neighborhood. Walking to a Trader Joe’s would be heaven on earth.
Adrian Salsgiver says
I’ve been told I don’t have anything to worry about when I go to the Giant because the employees only stab each other, not the costumers. But my PTSD prevents me from going into the Giant because the prices on the shelf are not the same as at the checkout and if I say something about it I feel like I’m under attack. I understand everybody else just pays it and goes along with it, but I cannot. I would be happy with any grocery store except Giant.
Sandra Collazo says
Having a Trader Joe’s would be a nice alternative to Giant. Also, it would be nice to have a couple of breakfast places and inexpensive restsurants, like Peruvian grilled chicken.
I do have to admit that it has been terrific to have all of the new businesses that have opened in the neighborhood.