Litteri's is a treasure. Right by Galludet, just up 6th St from H. Their prices are great. So's the food, especially the sausage they make in-house daily. Case discount on wines. Terrific selection of dried pasta, including unusual shapes that are hard to find. And the WaPo wasn't kidding about the amazing olive oil selection. If you haven't been, you've really been missing out. Just be aware that they have sort of odd hours, probably a left-over from the days when Fla. Ave. Mkt was a real wholesale market and everything opened and closed early.
Besides the amazing sandwiches, incredible selections of meats/cheeses, olive oil, wines etc., I can attest that they put together the best antipasto party trays.
Oh No! Not Exposure! Those new people are going to change Litteri's with their open wallets and their drive to eat up all the sausages and drink up all the cheap wine! God forbid a few more folks come down to the FL Ave Market and make the city consider actually valuing it! I say come on down new patrons, make Litteri's even more packed than it already is!
They need to change their hours to be more accommodating and maybe add a deli attendant or two. Competition from H St will soon kill this place and I do really like it but they need to adapt or die especially with Taylor Deli so close. -Russ
Russ said: "Competition from H St will soon kill this place"
Donna says: You must be joking. This place has been in business since the 1920's and it THRIVES even with its odd hours. Have you been there during lunch? Crazy busy. And on Saturdays - all the folks who lived lived in the neighborhood way back when (or who's parents did) come in from the suburbs to shop - and not just for a sandwich either. Trust me, A. Litteri's has long ago been "discovered" People I know who don't live anywhere near H. Street buy their wine there and everytime I think I'm passing on some insider info, I discover that people already know all about Litteri's...
I don't see A. Litteri going anywhere soon. I don't even think Taylor and A. Litteri really compete with each other. The products and experiences are pretty different. When I feel a need to visit an Italian sandwich place it is clearly a craving for one or the other (the same with the shopping). In short, I don't think they are at all interchangeable.
One more thing, though Litteri's (and plenty of the other places in the Market) do a decent amount of retail business, the Florida Market is still very much a fully functioning wholesale market.
I do think it might be a good idea to stay open late a couple of nights a week.
Am I the only one who is less than impressed by Litteri's?
The one time I went, my sub was served on stale bread, the prices seemed far from "remarkable," and the staff seemed to take their customers for granted (which I suppose is also reflected in their bizarre operating hours that effectively prevent people with jobs from shopping there during the week)
sometimes litteri's is a little off. but more often than not, they are really good.
the $4.95 italian sub is remarkable. it was $4.50 until about a year or so ago.
and if they do take their customers for granted, it is probably because they can. i go there for the food, not to be wooed. that being said, i dont feel unwelcome by the staff there. its usually busy as hell. i'll forgive them for not chitchatting.
The Florida Market is a diverse and thriving commercial space and the Funky Flea Market is NOT a swap meet for stolen goods. I can buy guajillo peppers, Taiwanese fashion, and lima bean soup at bargain prices, and it's not thanks to Safeway or Whole Foods or Joe Englert. Your comment is ignorant. Poor people gotta eat and shop too.
The Florida Market is for all kinds of people. The food is cheap if you know where to go. E.G. a bucket of tofu is $4. That is ten standard size pieces of tofu. $4. Can you beat that?
SHADY Florida Avenue (Market) said... Florida Market is a swap meet for stolen goods. I hate it.
Mar 29, 2010 4:59:00 PM
Really? All of the 200+ vendors in the entire wholesale food market? Who knew there was such a black market for soy milk and fresh rice noodles?
Honestly, I'm assuming you mean the flea market (I won't use the name here because you haven't convinced me that I should even give you that). But if you can't even name a place/thing, how can you expect to be taken seriously. What you just said is the equivalent of having an issue with the pawn shop on H Street and accusing every business on the corridor of being involved in that shady business.
BTW, what street do you live on? I want to check and see if there is a police report there for the last five years.
I think Russ is exaggerating. Litteri's does a thriving wholesale business you don't see. I doubt H Street will drive Litteri's out of business. Litteri's got great stuff that Taylor's doesn't have. (Like the Fra Diavolo. Really. Get some now.)
The owner has been less than pleasant to us when we've ordered sandwiches incorrectly, borderline Soup Nazi style, but whatever. I'm used to grouchy old Italian guys from shopping in South Philly. It's part of the charm for me. It's no frills, no marketing crap, groceries packed in reused wine cases and really awesome fancy sodas. (Dreamsicle sodas rock!)
The cheap wines are usually pretty good and reliable for a party. They have a great selection of Italian wines and I've had a lot of fun experimenting with unusual Italian varietals.
Does anyone know if the District is planning acquiring the remaining retail through eminent domain? Pretty sure 3/4 of the store owners have agreed to the redevelopment plans proposed by Edens and Avant. Kelo v New Haven sets a precedence for absolute public benefit in this case.
Gallaudet has been pushing for the redevelopment for several years.
It's a shame that there isn't more retail in the those great two story warehouse spaces.
You'd have a much stronger argument against eminent domain if there was more retail.
I got mixed feelings on this. I'd love to see a more neighborhood-specific use there (many of the wholesale shops don't really cater to neighborhood residents), but I'm really loathe to see anyone determine that a legitimate property use isn't 'good enough' and use the power of the city to seize private property.
Many of the flea market vendors acquire their goods through storage locker sales, estate sales, auctions, etc. Of course a guy selling 10 used computers wasn't the original owner of all of them. But why would you bother to talk to any of the vendors when you could just make blanket assumptions based on stereotypes?
I'll go ahead and clear this up, because I run 6th Street, so my opinion carries authority - Litteri's is amazing, Taylor is so/so (sorry, I can't get down with a dry sub), the wholesale market is still full on every weekday, the farmer's market is great but could use some infrastructure and facade work to encourage more foot traffic (poor and rich alike), the funky flea market is full of trinkets, vinyl and knockoffs and poses no threat, the area surrounding it does attract (especially on nice weekends when it's super busy) those selling stolen merchandise, i'm convinced redevelopment may never happen (J Street Development and Gallaudet control 5th to 6th, Florida to Penn - 78 owners occupy the remainder of the site), that said, it wouldn't take much to make the whole market site nice (wholesale, farmers, flea), just regular trash cleanup, some better lighting and a revised traffic pattern to better accomodate drivers and walkers. Whatever the case, the entire market site is a great amenity and I do believe that someday the entire city will come to recognize that. One more thing, big ups to Mexican Fruits and their tiny bananas!
29 comments:
Try the Fra Diavolo they make at Litteri's. It's awesome.
Litteri's is a treasure. Right by Galludet, just up 6th St from H.
Their prices are great. So's the food, especially the sausage they make in-house daily. Case discount on wines. Terrific selection of dried pasta, including unusual shapes that are hard to find. And the WaPo wasn't kidding about the amazing olive oil selection.
If you haven't been, you've really been missing out.
Just be aware that they have sort of odd hours, probably a left-over from the days when Fla. Ave. Mkt was a real wholesale market and everything opened and closed early.
Most importantly they carry hard to find items such as baccalà, "00" flour, mortadella, real mozzarella di bufala, and carnaroli...
I love Litteri's as much as anyone but I can't see how any good will come of this.
Besides the amazing sandwiches, incredible selections of meats/cheeses, olive oil, wines etc., I can attest that they put together the best antipasto party trays.
Oh No! Not Exposure! Those new people are going to change Litteri's with their open wallets and their drive to eat up all the sausages and drink up all the cheap wine! God forbid a few more folks come down to the FL Ave Market and make the city consider actually valuing it! I say come on down new patrons, make Litteri's even more packed than it already is!
They need to change their hours to be more accommodating and maybe add a deli attendant or two. Competition from H St will soon kill this place and I do really like it but they need to adapt or die especially with Taylor Deli so close.
-Russ
Russ said: "Competition from H St will soon kill this place"
Donna says: You must be joking. This place has been in business since the 1920's and it THRIVES even with its odd hours. Have you been there during lunch? Crazy busy. And on Saturdays - all the folks who lived lived in the neighborhood way back when (or who's parents did) come in from the suburbs to shop - and not just for a sandwich either. Trust me, A. Litteri's has long ago been "discovered" People I know who don't live anywhere near H. Street buy their wine there and everytime I think I'm passing on some insider info, I discover that people already know all about Litteri's...
I don't see A. Litteri going anywhere soon. I don't even think Taylor and A. Litteri really compete with each other. The products and experiences are pretty different. When I feel a need to visit an Italian sandwich place it is clearly a craving for one or the other (the same with the shopping). In short, I don't think they are at all interchangeable.
One more thing, though Litteri's (and plenty of the other places in the Market) do a decent amount of retail business, the Florida Market is still very much a fully functioning wholesale market.
I do think it might be a good idea to stay open late a couple of nights a week.
Florida Market is a swap meet for stolen goods. I hate it.
Am I the only one who is less than impressed by Litteri's?
The one time I went, my sub was served on stale bread, the prices seemed far from "remarkable," and the staff seemed to take their customers for granted (which I suppose is also reflected in their bizarre operating hours that effectively prevent people with jobs from shopping there during the week)
andrew,
sometimes litteri's is a little off. but more often than not, they are really good.
the $4.95 italian sub is remarkable. it was $4.50 until about a year or so ago.
and if they do take their customers for granted, it is probably because they can. i go there for the food, not to be wooed. that being said, i dont feel unwelcome by the staff there. its usually busy as hell. i'll forgive them for not chitchatting.
When is Dangerously Delicious Pies going to open? I mean how the hell can you plan on opening in November and still not have opened by April?
"how the hell can you plan on opening in November and still not have opened by April?"
Six words: Wash.Ing.Ton.D.C.Government.
The Florida Market is a diverse and thriving commercial space and the Funky Flea Market is NOT a swap meet for stolen goods. I can buy guajillo peppers, Taiwanese fashion, and lima bean soup at bargain prices, and it's not thanks to Safeway or Whole Foods or Joe Englert. Your comment is ignorant. Poor people gotta eat and shop too.
The Florida Market is for all kinds of people. The food is cheap if you know where to go. E.G. a bucket of tofu is $4. That is ten standard size pieces of tofu. $4. Can you beat that?
Florida Market is a swap meet for stolen goods. I hate it
There's a difference between the Farmer's Market and the Florida Market. You very clearly have been to neither.
SHADY Florida Avenue (Market) said... Florida Market is a swap meet for stolen goods. I hate it.
Mar 29, 2010 4:59:00 PM
Really? All of the 200+ vendors in the entire wholesale food market? Who knew there was such a black market for soy milk and fresh rice noodles?
Honestly, I'm assuming you mean the flea market (I won't use the name here because you haven't convinced me that I should even give you that). But if you can't even name a place/thing, how can you expect to be taken seriously. What you just said is the equivalent of having an issue with the pawn shop on H Street and accusing every business on the corridor of being involved in that shady business.
BTW, what street do you live on? I want to check and see if there is a police report there for the last five years.
I think Russ is exaggerating. Litteri's does a thriving wholesale business you don't see. I doubt H Street will drive Litteri's out of business. Litteri's got great stuff that Taylor's doesn't have. (Like the Fra Diavolo. Really. Get some now.)
The owner has been less than pleasant to us when we've ordered sandwiches incorrectly, borderline Soup Nazi style, but whatever. I'm used to grouchy old Italian guys from shopping in South Philly. It's part of the charm for me. It's no frills, no marketing crap, groceries packed in reused wine cases and really awesome fancy sodas. (Dreamsicle sodas rock!)
The cheap wines are usually pretty good and reliable for a party. They have a great selection of Italian wines and I've had a lot of fun experimenting with unusual Italian varietals.
Does anyone know if the District is planning acquiring the remaining retail through eminent domain? Pretty sure 3/4 of the store owners have agreed to the redevelopment plans proposed by Edens and Avant. Kelo v New Haven sets a precedence for absolute public benefit in this case.
Gallaudet has been pushing for the redevelopment for several years.
Peep: http://capitalcitymarket.blogspot.com/
It's a shame that there isn't more retail in the those great two story warehouse spaces.
You'd have a much stronger argument against eminent domain if there was more retail.
I got mixed feelings on this. I'd love to see a more neighborhood-specific use there (many of the wholesale shops don't really cater to neighborhood residents), but I'm really loathe to see anyone determine that a legitimate property use isn't 'good enough' and use the power of the city to seize private property.
One fall morning at the "market":
Man looking at goods says to guy selling electronics,pointing to an Apple computer tower: "how much is that one?"
man selling electronics: "$70"
buyer: "so cheap?"
man selling electronics: "it has a password on it"
I guess he just forgot the password to HIS computer he was selling hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
I spit out my drink laughing at Rayful Edmond. Well done
Many of the flea market vendors acquire their goods through storage locker sales, estate sales, auctions, etc. Of course a guy selling 10 used computers wasn't the original owner of all of them. But why would you bother to talk to any of the vendors when you could just make blanket assumptions based on stereotypes?
I'll go ahead and clear this up, because I run 6th Street, so my opinion carries authority - Litteri's is amazing, Taylor is so/so (sorry, I can't get down with a dry sub), the wholesale market is still full on every weekday, the farmer's market is great but could use some infrastructure and facade work to encourage more foot traffic (poor and rich alike), the funky flea market is full of trinkets, vinyl and knockoffs and poses no threat, the area surrounding it does attract (especially on nice weekends when it's super busy) those selling stolen merchandise, i'm convinced redevelopment may never happen (J Street Development and Gallaudet control 5th to 6th, Florida to Penn - 78 owners occupy the remainder of the site), that said, it wouldn't take much to make the whole market site nice (wholesale, farmers, flea), just regular trash cleanup, some better lighting and a revised traffic pattern to better accomodate drivers and walkers. Whatever the case, the entire market site is a great amenity and I do believe that someday the entire city will come to recognize that. One more thing, big ups to Mexican Fruits and their tiny bananas!
http://frozentropics.blogspot.com/2007/04/florida-avenue-market-study.html
Re: Applebees - It's a really pretty study and plan. I prefer reality.
The owner has been less than pleasant to us when we've ordered sandwiches incorrectly, borderline Soup Nazi style, but whatever.
Yah, that guy is a douchebag. But remember, when wearing one's hipster costume, one has to be indifferent and arrogant!
what sunny fla ave. said about the market.
Post a Comment