The Post
explores the recent proliferation of wine bars and briefly mentions SOVA in the list of wine bars to open next year. The coffee bar postion of SOVA is already open, but once they obtain a liquor license they will open up an additional 2nd floor space next door.
19 comments:
IMO, Sova is the coolest place in our hood, by far. I have no idea why that place hasn't been packed each time I've been there. Lattes are incredible, atmosphere is great and the owner is a real cool cat. Where are all the H Street people? Hiding at home behind their barred windows and security doors??? Come on, get out and live a little. There's more to our corner of the city than just Eastern Market.
ummm, I haven't felt real welcome there. I quess I just fit into the cool cat's desired demographic. I'll make the extra effort to go to Sidamo or Murky. Too bad, I really wanted to like it, and it's a heck of a lot closer.
make that I don't fit into the desired demographic...
anon,
wow! that's a nice vague broadside attack on the guy's business. what do you think is the owner's desired demographic? i haven't seen him treat anyone poorly.
My wife and I love Sova and go several times a week. Frank (the owner) is always friendly, greets us by name, and takes time to talk to us. One time, I was in there, and since I was the only one enjoying my beverage there, he offered to let me pick the music. I look forward to their wine and beer offerings this spring.
I am extra curious to know what anonymous believes is the owner's "desired demographic." He is a black man and very friendly. I have seen patrons who are black and white and he treated them all very nicely. He offered to take my friend and I (both black females) on a tour and we glady accepted. He has caucasian people working in the store. So really anonymous...what is his desired demographic??? Frank seems very friendly and intersted in serving his patrons.
I visited SOVA recently with a friend from New York(grew up in DC). She might be considered young and hip, but I don't fit that demographic(abit older and a parent). I really liked SOVA. I loved the edgy, hip look about it, BUT everyone was so friendly and welcoming. And I loved the mix of people working there. It was very un-Washington to me, which I LOVED. An older woman was there when we went, and I thought she said she was Frank's mother, but she was not African American. I may have missed something. At any rate....I think SOVA adds a great feel. I wish it much success.
Just to clarify....both of Frank's parents may not be of African descent. However, one or at least a grandparent is. When I see him; I see that he a man of color. However, I understand other people may be unable to see the same characteristics. I think the best comparison is Vin Diesal, the wrestler/actor The Rock (Dwayne Johnson)and Mariah Carey. All people who have caucasian mothers and black fathers however the hue of their skin is very light and many people always thought they were only white. However, the point is regardless of ethnicity, age, or "hipness" :-) Frank is a nice guy and the staff is also nice. That's what really matters and that was all I was attempting to convey. It sounds like Anonymous #2 also had a good experience at SOVA :-)
i think anon 12/29 2:35 needs to be upfront about this percieved "desired demographic". he or she may not have meant race but it looks like that is how FT readers percieved it. Perhaps some clarification?
but the fact that his race has come up here at all is just appalling. who cares?
Sova is great, the coffee is great and Frank is a sweetheart. if one of his brand new employees was less-than welcoming you should mention it to him.
maybe anon caught someone at a bad time or on a bad day... give it a rest, no one is perfect.
even legit restaurant critics give a place several chances before they write a review.
and as far as desired demographic goes, bogus. H Street has a core of residents of all ages, ethnicities and income levels- all of whom have become regulars at places like the argonaut and sova. the "desired demographic" is paying customers.
I agree with Jen. I should not have immediately gone to race or mentioned his race. That just took the conversation in the wrong direction. It's all about perception and when I read "demographic" that is what I thought of. However the other anonymous mentioned age and style and those are very valid points.
Overall, we all agree it's a very nice place and if something occured that was less than amiable...I think SOVA deserves a second chance.
I'm going to agree with Jen's comment. I think the desired demographic for SOVA is pretty much anyone who's buying something. If an employee wasn't attentive enough, I'm sure it was just an oversight. They do have some new people working there, so that can always lead to kinks anywhere. I've seen a variety of different sorts of people in SOVA, just as was always the case with R and B Coffee. If your first experience wasn't great, try it again.
Yeah, Anon #1. I would give Sova another chance. Why ban a neighborhood business over something that is more than likely a misunderstanding? I'm sure you will have many positive experiences there for years to come.
On to another topic, has anyone noticed whether Benning Road construction has begun?
I took the 'demographic' comment to mean that the poster perhaps wasn't young and hip, especially since it was prefaced by 'cool cat's'..... I didn't see any reference to race in there at all.
I have yet to be to SOVA, so I can't speak to it specifically. But I have definitely gotten the 'you aren't hip enough to be here' vibe at several of the new H Street joints.
Yes, I'm older. Yes, I dress like a dork. But I'll try anything once. But once patrons or staff there sneer at me I don't really see a reason to go back.
On H it seems it's mostly some of the patrons that can be condescending, as by and large the staff I've run into are pretty friendly.
I won't soon forget the tongue lashing me and a friend with a recent knee injury got from H Street hipsters for daring to park our car close to the R&R Hotel, instead of walking / hobbling the 20 blocks to our H Street destination.
Shocker.....Even when Hillamn is positive, he always finds a way to throw in the negative.
So we are still playing this sad personal attack game? Can't we just agree to be adults on this forum? Why the hate?
Last post was me.... Sorry for the anonymous ID....entry error....
LOL, Hillman. Maybe i shouldn't have used the phrase "cool cat." It seems to be throwing people (or maybe just you) off. So for the record, cool cat = nice guy, not hipster or hip and young, etc. Or better yet, forget i ever said cool cat. The owner is just a nice, 30/40 something, normal dressing guy with a normal hair cut, and no visible body piercings and/or tatoos. Just your ordinary red blooded American guy from what i can tell. Better?
Sorry to hear you've had some bad hipster run-ins on h street, but i have a hard time believing that experience would be repeated at Sova. As an earlier post indicated, the demographic Sova serves is the one with cold hard cash to spend on coffee/tea/pastries. That's about it from what I can tell. There's no need to flare up rumors that Sova is a hipster joint that doesn't treat all paying customers with courtesy and respect. Go check it out for yourselves, everyone!
Happy New Year!
That's something I can get on board with...everyone who reads this blog and still hasn't checked out SOVA, go check it out & spend some cash. It's a great place. The coffee is good, the space is warm, with tons of seating. Hopefully some day soon it's going to look like Tryst, packed all the time. In the mean time, go and enjoy.
Both Sidamo and SOVA are great spots with distinct personalities, and we're lucky to have them both on our strip.
I'd also like to please remind people to keep it friendly.
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