I spoke to the owner of ANM Deli & Convenience on Sunday. He told me that they would like to keep the store open, but in this economy that is tough to do. He would like to lease the space for 3-4 years, and then hopefully return to open the Ethiopian restaurant he originally planned to open (the store was an initial test).
22 comments:
Too bad. Owner is a nice guy. He would have been better off opening an Ethiopian restaurant in the first place rather than going with half-measures (i.e., erstwhile "deli").
Once Taylor opened this place basically had no shot.
They have such a strange assortment of items that I couldn't find a use for them. Why carry bleach but not milk? The area needs a good corner store-- and I think the neighborhood would support one, but you have to go full in. I think that ANM just didn't figure out it's niche.
I, for one, am about ready for a higher-end liquor/beer store that doesn't (a) have bullet proof glass, or (b) keno.
He should try marketing it as "H Street Grill," and focus on burgers, fries, and sandwiches.
And he should definitely go for the morning food crowd. There is no locally owned business in the area where u get get a bagel sandwich, at least on Sunday mornings. At Sidamo they hand you a bagel, and point to the toaster. Heaven forbid u ask for an egg or slice of tomato!
Heck if they got re-zoned to add seating and served breakfast, they'd make it rich.
Tom are you sure about Sidamo's breakfast offerings?
It's been a few months since I've picked up food in the morning from there but I think I remember them having some decent options.
Regardless, you're right - there's plenty of room for good breakfast food on H.
Tom, you must be talking about another place. Sidamo offers a selection of breakfast ... http://www.sidamocoffeeandtea.com/Breakfast.html
There is no locally owned business in the area where u get get a bagel sandwich, at least on Sunday mornings. At Sidamo they hand you a bagel, and point to the toaster.Not to pile on, but you are talking about Sidamo the *coffee* shop. The one on H St...in Washington, DC, right?
I'm sure Tom means Sova. I mean, I love the place, but breakfast sandwiches would be a welcome addition to the East Side.
I think Tom does mean Sova. Sova has yogurt, bagels, and pastries, but no egg sandwiches. Sidamo does do egg sandwiches.
For the record, ANM does offer (and has offered) multiple breakfast options. That would include egg sandwiches on Sunday mornings.
Oops, I did mean Sova. My bad!
Will have to check out A and M more often- at least while they remain open.
I walked in there once, took a look around and walked out. To me why would a deli have bleach and other non-food items...It was a jumble mess of stuff without any thought process. IMHO
Speaking of liquor stores in our area. I had a need for Chambord the black raspberry liquor. and when I asked the local liquor store I received a blank stare. It would be a pleasure to have a store where I could browse the items and the owners not have everything behind bullet proof glass. That may have been fine for 15 or 20 years ago, but please!
Well Speaking of Liquor Stores, i was prlesently surprised by Rose's Liquor on Bladensburg Road yesterday, after weeks of asking they started carrying my favorite brand of Vodka. They are responsive and I think would be open to carrying more high end stuff, but if we ask them or any liquor store to carry stuff we have to be willing to buy it. Most the liquor stores around seem to cater to the lower end of the market. Some of more receptive to change than others.
-Robby
On the one hand, I agree with Robby that we (if we care) can go to these shops on H St. and convince them to increase the quality of their merchandise. However, it is also a bit perplexing to me that this change doesn't seem to be coming from the proprietors themselves. I mean, if I suddenly walked by one of our currently ghetto-fabulous liquor stores to find new coats of paint, updated signage, etc., I'd certainly walk in. And if I went in, and saw a clean, new, build-out with micro brews and shcmancy liquors, I'd shop there for life, rather than driving south into Cap Hill.
So, sure, it's not their responsibility, but it's a bit surprising that none of them has really stepped forward to grab the new market that is undoubtably living in their midst.
@Diane: I agree the ANM store was really a jumble of things. I went in there three times mostly as a show of support when they first opened but since then I've never really found a reason to go back. I think based on the success of places like Taylor and Granville Moore, Sticky Rice, etc that it's probably better to have a real focus and play that focus up as much as possible.
@Anonymous 4:30: unfortunately those types of liquor stores -- the bullet proof glass type -- make an insane amount of money selling cheap booze and beer and have a very loyal and (ahem) repeat customers. You may go in there a couple times a month to buy an $8 six-pack of microbrew or a $20 bottle of wine. Meanwhile the local drunk is going in there three times a day, everyday to pick up his steel reserve and popov vodka.
I just want to say that we found a reason to go back to ANM again and again...the Ethiopian food. It was delicious each time.
I wish them well and hope they'll be back w/ that restaurant when things turn back up.
It's interesting...I think on H St as a business owner you have to decide if you're going to go after the middle- to upper-middle-class customer w/ disposable income or not, and you really can't shoot for in between. Pap & Petey's #1, Sweets & Treats, ANM were all places that needed these people to come in to survive, yet did not seem to appeal to that segment. Me excluded, I liked them all.
The Ethiopian food there is absolutely amazing! It's just that nobody knew it was there. I will really miss not having that as a nearby option. Good luck to them.
They are not closed yet. They just have a for lease sign up. Much of the inventory is gone, but they are still selling food and drink.
And if I went in, and saw a clean, new, build-out with micro brews and shcmancy liquors, I'd shop there for life, rather than driving south into Cap Hill.There is Schneider's...
Schnieder's is not in walking distance. That's exactly my point.
Their grocery items left something to be desired, but their sandwiches were fantastic! I'm sorry to see this place go, but a stronger business model always prevails.
Tom A.,
Since you want egg sandwiches so much, what's wrong with McDonalds, Tony's or ANM. Why is it that you have to knock one place for not serving something, when you can easily get it someplace else.
I've noticed in the past that you seem to bitch about Sova and other places for not doing something you want. I for one love Sova. I go there just about every weekend with my kids, and they have more than enough to satisfy my morning cravings.
If you want something better, do it yourself. I hate when you idiots knock good businesses.
Idiot.
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