A look at what's going on in Trinidad, on H Street, and in the larger area north of Capitol Hill.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Good Stuff Coming to Union Station?
Apparently Chef Spike Mendehlson is planning to open two new branches of his wildly successful burger joint Good Stuff. One of those locations is said to be post-renovation Union Station.
28 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Post-renovation? Is Union Station going to be renovated soon?
Good Stuff's shakes are to die for. I wish they wouldn't pack their fries in a sack if you're eating it-- they get steamed and soggy by the time you walk upstairs with them. Excellent burgers though.
Too bad about the food court. It was a great people watching place. Lots of cultures, and it was possible to get a decent variety of food at a not so big price. Good stuff would have fit into the old format. I like their burgers and fries, but the very popular shakes are way too gooey sweet.
I can not find any information about the whole renovation of Union Station. I know that they are in the middle of the long awaited Bike Rack, but re-configuration of the Station? I recall seeing a display of a future Union Station, but I thought those were concepts and it said nothing about when it will happen. With today economic melt down, can the gov't afford to do this?
About 6 months ago, Marc Fisher had a piece in his WashPost blog about the renovations coming to Union Station, which has switched owners. I've heard nothing specific since.
BTW, the Heidi's is open, and the food is mediocre at best. The Sisters Pizza & Mussels which is located in the same space is also open--I haven't tried either offering, but some colleagues have and said both the pizza & shellfish were pretty good.
Unheralded, but much better then Heidi's is the Uptown Cafe, located in the old Woodies warehouse (131 M Street NE), which features real turkey on their sandwiches as well as a small hot bar and salad bar. They're only open Mon-Fri, from 6:00 - 4:00 pm. They also serve breakfast and coffee drinks, although their coffee is no match for what you can find at Pound's.
I haven't tried Heidi's yet, but I've certainly enjoyed the pizza at Sisters. Overall, the staff there is energetic and nice, and I'm sure they'll work out any kinks soon.
"does anyone know if H Street will be getting a grocery store ever?"
OK, it doesn't have your fancy schmancy stuff like arugula, or skim milk, or kidney beans (which I found out last week), but Murray's IS a grocery store. I like that they've got all the basic produce (maybe 30-40 different fresh fruits and vegetables), and they also just started carrying fresh meat (though I haven't tried it).
Skim milk is fancy schmancy? I don't know that I'd be buying fresh meat there--wouldn't you just head to the Safeway down at the Benning/Bladensburg intersection? I agree though, that another grocery store would be great...
I don't know if the plans are going to come to fruition considering the state of the economy but they're redoing the front of Union Station so it's more pedestrian friendly. They're going to take down the hedge, and redo the cobblestones, for instance. They had ambitious plans to bring in Apple and Nike as anchors, but I don't know where those plans are. Also, they wanted to bring in a high-profile restauranteur to take the place of America, whose lease is lapsing. At least that's what the manager presented at a Stanton Park Neighborhood Association meeting a few months back.
I will never understand why *anyone* would buy a hamburger from Good Stuff when you can buy one from McDonalds for under a dollar, *AND* you never have to get out of your car.
OK, it doesn't have your fancy schmancy stuff like arugula, or skim milk, or kidney beans
Perhaps the only way to convince another grocer to come to H Street is buy patronizing current grocers on the corridor (i.e. UnSafeway, or whatever us "new residents" call it, and Murray's). If a grocer sees an opportunity, they will take it. If they see grocer business is slow for other grocers, they'll never consider H Street a good bet. They can't count on there being this potential market of arugula munching customers out there to patronize their store. Sorry, that's just the way it is...
i had some turkey burgers from murray's that my stomach didn't agree with. i never went back.
as for uno's closing, there isn't an uno's in the food court in union station, as i remember. there was a different pizza chain in the food court. not sbarro's. mama something? anyone remember? it was at the far end from the movie theater.
the uno's was on a whole different floor from the rest of the food court and was a sit-down restaurant, not a takeout place like all the food court joints.
My skim milk comment was meant to be ironic. But to be clear, my (semi) endorsement of shopping there was sincere. Although I do most of my shopping elsewhere, I live 3 blocks from Murray's and shop there pretty regularly, mostly for their produce, but also for eggs, cheese, frozen pizza, frozen turkey bacon, and various other things. On the other hand, their selection does have gaping holes: they don't carry skim milk or decent bread. I would be thrilled to have a better store, but I would also be disappointed to lose Murray's. If you haven't tried it, give it a shot.
Isn't the future apartment building at 3rd and H supposed to have a grocery tenant on the ground floor? It was originally Harris Teeter until they pulled out to go to the NY Ave Metro location...
Anwar was courting Trader Joe's to take over that location for a while too...They tend to want to locate in a post-gentrification neighborhood though...
Hey I hear people ranting a raving about Good Stuff but what about "SUGAR" Upscale Soulfood. they have one of the best burgers in town and all of the Soulfood favorites. has anyone been there yet i hear they are crushing Trinidad with some of the best food in the city. check out there menu its rediculous www.ordersugarfood.com
28 comments:
Post-renovation? Is Union Station going to be renovated soon?
The renovation is supposed to be amazing. Apparently the new & improved Union Station will have Amtrak trains that run on time.
Oh... and Good Stuff Eatery is delicious.
hmmm.
I guess Johnny Rockets is gone if Good Stuff is coming in.
BTW, I'm partially geeked that Heidi's is now open. I'll be 100% geeked if their food is actually good.
Amtrak trains that run on the Northeast Corridor (DC to Boston) have a much better on-time performance than any airline in the U.S.
All the other trains have to use freight lines which means delays over which Amtrak has no control.
Another reason why we need to upgrade our rail infrastructure.
Good Stuff's shakes are to die for. I wish they wouldn't pack their fries in a sack if you're eating it-- they get steamed and soggy by the time you walk upstairs with them. Excellent burgers though.
none of the "eateries" leases are being renewed. the food court is going to go bye bye, as will the movie theatre.
out of the existing "eateries", only a few will remain. from what i hear, even UNO PIZZERIA is going bye bye.
Too bad about the food court. It was a great people watching place. Lots of cultures, and it was possible to get a decent variety of food at a not so big price. Good stuff would have fit into the old format. I like their burgers and fries, but the very popular shakes are way too gooey sweet.
They need to put a Good Stuff on H Street NE! We need it bad! And while I'm at it...does anyone know if H Street will be getting a grocery store ever?
If the food court & theater are leaving what will go in downstairs at Union Station?
I'm with ann. 1:21. what are they going to put in food court. And no Unos are they mad. I had some of best date nights and happy hours there.
Debbie
I can not find any information about the whole renovation of Union Station. I know that they are in the middle of the long awaited Bike Rack, but re-configuration of the Station? I recall seeing a display of a future Union Station, but I thought those were concepts and it said nothing about when it will happen. With today economic melt down, can the gov't afford to do this?
they are fixin' to UPGRADE!!!
let it be a cautionary tale ... in whatever way.
About 6 months ago, Marc Fisher had a piece in his WashPost blog about the renovations coming to Union Station, which has switched owners. I've heard nothing specific since.
BTW, the Heidi's is open, and the food is mediocre at best. The Sisters Pizza & Mussels which is located in the same space is also open--I haven't tried either offering, but some colleagues have and said both the pizza & shellfish were pretty good.
Unheralded, but much better then Heidi's is the Uptown Cafe, located in the old Woodies warehouse (131 M Street NE), which features real turkey on their sandwiches as well as a small hot bar and salad bar. They're only open Mon-Fri, from 6:00 - 4:00 pm. They also serve breakfast and coffee drinks, although their coffee is no match for what you can find at Pound's.
I have no current info about Union Station but this article from last July talks about "plans" to do some cool stuff.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/23/AR2008072301322.html
the idea is to make the food court and the theatre more of an upscale food area.
watch your movies there while you still can. it's slated to be some kind of swanky joint.
granted, i'm going off the plans that were presented nearly 10 months ago.
but as far as i know, it's still a "go".
I haven't tried Heidi's yet, but I've certainly enjoyed the pizza at Sisters. Overall, the staff there is energetic and nice, and I'm sure they'll work out any kinks soon.
"does anyone know if H Street will be getting a grocery store ever?"
OK, it doesn't have your fancy schmancy stuff like arugula, or skim milk, or kidney beans (which I found out last week), but Murray's IS a grocery store. I like that they've got all the basic produce (maybe 30-40 different fresh fruits and vegetables), and they also just started carrying fresh meat (though I haven't tried it).
Skim milk is fancy schmancy? I don't know that I'd be buying fresh meat there--wouldn't you just head to the Safeway down at the Benning/Bladensburg intersection? I agree though, that another grocery store would be great...
I don't know if the plans are going to come to fruition considering the state of the economy but they're redoing the front of Union Station so it's more pedestrian friendly. They're going to take down the hedge, and redo the cobblestones, for instance. They had ambitious plans to bring in Apple and Nike as anchors, but I don't know where those plans are.
Also, they wanted to bring in a high-profile restauranteur to take the place of America, whose lease is lapsing.
At least that's what the manager presented at a Stanton Park Neighborhood Association meeting a few months back.
I will never understand why *anyone* would buy a hamburger from Good Stuff when you can buy one from McDonalds for under a dollar, *AND* you never have to get out of your car.
OK, it doesn't have your fancy schmancy stuff like arugula, or skim milk, or kidney beans
Hat's off: Totally awesome... :)
You have to get out of your car at the H Street Connection to get a burger. Can we figure out a way to add a drive through there?
Perhaps the only way to convince another grocer to come to H Street is buy patronizing current grocers on the corridor (i.e. UnSafeway, or whatever us "new residents" call it, and Murray's). If a grocer sees an opportunity, they will take it. If they see grocer business is slow for other grocers, they'll never consider H Street a good bet. They can't count on there being this potential market of arugula munching customers out there to patronize their store. Sorry, that's just the way it is...
i had some turkey burgers from murray's that my stomach didn't agree with. i never went back.
as for uno's closing, there isn't an uno's in the food court in union station, as i remember. there was a different pizza chain in the food court. not sbarro's. mama something? anyone remember? it was at the far end from the movie theater.
the uno's was on a whole different floor from the rest of the food court and was a sit-down restaurant, not a takeout place like all the food court joints.
You have to get out of your car at the H Street Connection to get a burger. Can we figure out a way to add a drive through there?
I think they tried that with the Checkers on 14th & MD Ave...
My skim milk comment was meant to be ironic. But to be clear, my (semi) endorsement of shopping there was sincere. Although I do most of my shopping elsewhere, I live 3 blocks from Murray's and shop there pretty regularly, mostly for their produce, but also for eggs, cheese, frozen pizza, frozen turkey bacon, and various other things. On the other hand, their selection does have gaping holes: they don't carry skim milk or decent bread. I would be thrilled to have a better store, but I would also be disappointed to lose Murray's. If you haven't tried it, give it a shot.
Isn't the future apartment building at 3rd and H supposed to have a grocery tenant on the ground floor? It was originally Harris Teeter until they pulled out to go to the NY Ave Metro location...
Anwar was courting Trader Joe's to take over that location for a while too...They tend to want to locate in a post-gentrification neighborhood though...
Hey I hear people ranting a raving about Good Stuff but what about "SUGAR" Upscale Soulfood. they have one of the best burgers in town and all of the Soulfood favorites. has anyone been there yet i hear they are crushing Trinidad with some of the best food in the city. check out there menu its rediculous www.ordersugarfood.com
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