As you may have heard, Toyland officially changed hands yesterday. I have known about the plans for sale for a while, but didn't want to risk jinxing it. So, Toyland is now closed and will reopen this summer as a new establishment, with a new name and new concept. I'm waiting for a call back from the new owner, and will draft a post when I learn more.
53 comments:
let the comments begin...
*grabs popcorn*
it's a good spot, hopefully the new place will get it right. the last version was okay but the techno music they played there was terrible
Good for them. I'm eager to see what the new concept is.
What techno music isn't terrible?
Hopefully the keep the mural in the mens room.
*they
Are the getting new bartenders? The one with the stache and jeep was terrible.
This should have been done 6 months ago. Best of luck to the new owners.
multiple periods of down-time and non-money making. that's a tough carry for the building owner. any idea if he is going to be involved with the new business or just maintain position as landlord this time? nosey I know, just curious as to how these things work
Is that spot cursed? This will be the fourth business there.
How different will the concept be if they turn it around quick enough to open this summer? SexToyland?
They should frost/fog all that glass. That would look fresh
Curious,
the building owner will not be involved in the new business. He will only be the landlord.
I Heart Techno,
David was one of the early renovators on that end of H Street, so he has had more tenants. Two of those failed businesses were owned by the same guy (a bookstore and a bar). He was a nice guy, but maybe not much luck running a business. The location's decent, but it will be great once more stuff opens up at night. Tru Orleans will be open soon, and I expect that to help out a great deal.
Rename it Candyland.
... and make it a gaybar!
Agreed, gaybar please!!!
Oh crap, better get more popcorn.
Not a bad idea though.
Are you sure it'll be a bar? I heard it would be a restaurant and much more food-focused than either version of Toyland ever was and that it would serve lunch.
I love the staff, decor, theme, drinks and food. I really wish it wouldn't change.
A gym please.
It's only a matter of time before frozen yogurt and/or cupcakes show up on H Street. Hopefully this isn't that time...
What's wrong with a frozen yogurt or cupcake shop? Do you think H Street is just "too cool" for those things?
What is going on with the fancy french place across the street? they haven't done anything for weeks.
Coverage of Councilman Thomas in every news outlet in the city, but nothing here?
How about a gas station in that spot?
Good point about the absence of Thomas coverage here. How many council members are under investigation now? 5 I think. Plus the mayor. This is out of hand. We'll never get statehood at this rate. Nor should we until we get some serious people to represent us honestly.
7:57,
The HTJ thing is really a time constraint issue on my part. As you noted, there's plenty of coverage elsewhere. Want handpicked coverage? Follow @frozentropics on Twitter.
yea, what up with the Frenchy joint? I hope the Candyland Gaybar serves food.
gay bar! it would do great!
@Jun 10, 2011 7:57:00 AM
No state just "hood" for now.
aww..will miss the "old" toyland as well as the "new" toyland mainly because it was in the hood and walkable so even if you got drunk you could get home
It was a pretty cool space but its exciting to see what's in store. A gay bar would be a pretty cool idea for the area. The "new" Toyland did have a better food menu but the "old" Toyland had better bartenders.
As an aside, what's with the mouse droppings in my food at The Diner . . OMFG! Nasty! Never again!
There are signs up now in the windows. New place will be "The Big Board" featuring burgers, beers and such. Could be a good move. Haven't heard much about who is behind the menu etc.
Looks like 413 got slammed with all kinds of violations for not keeping up the place. I saw a violation form from the city taped to the building. Evidently there's massive vegetation and rats. Looks like it won't sell if it's a shit-pile: http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/15028673/413-H-Street-NE-Washington-DC/
https://thebigboarddc.com/Home.html
Webpage up, not a lot of info.
This is just a thought...I would like to see a movie theater styled after the Alamo Draft House that we had in Austin. You could sit on sofas, lounge chairs, regular seats and the food was great and brought to you before the movie started. Once they showed "Like Water for Chocolate" and served the same cuisine that was in the movie...Not all movies were recent releases..some where as old as Charlie Chaplin classics...Thoughts??
Oh, for chrissakes. People need to start learning about strategic communications and branding. Call me shallow, but if you're lazy with your website, you'll be lazy with your food. Pull it down and put it back up once you've finished it. This thing looks tacky and is NOT the best way to get your word out.
On the website it says they will be having an outdoor patio. Where would that be? On the corner? Do they have a permit for it already? Has the ANC been engaged in this?
I do hope that whom ever is running the new place will make it last. And brake the curse of that spot.
+1 @ 7:22.
That website is a travesty. It already makes me NOT want to go to whatever this place is going to be.
It gets better. Read the text in this design contest: http://www.donanza.com/jobs/p3010861-the_big_board_logo_design_contest
More info and alternate logo designs. http://logotournament.com/contests/the_big_board
The website typos are frightful.
I don't mean to be critical. I wish them the best. They have a lot to do if they hope to open July 1.
@2:36
My favorite part: "We want to give the idea of a nice restaurant, but we are in a dive neighborhood. We don't want the impression that we are too uptight."
Too uptight? That's hilarious. I think they should be more worried about sounding like complete d-bags.
How about the "We serve gormet hamburgers and alcohol with prices that adjust to the minute with the customer demand, like the stock market." [typo included]
Will their service also fluctuate?
GOD! You guys are such assholes! Seriously, do you have nothing better to do?
can the fu^&in' toyland soap opera just go away? i'm now longing to read about oscsar meyer's weiner. booyah!
The logo shall boast (according to the logo contest website): "great food, great service". Sounds like Fudruckker's. Direct compete. Nice! Game on.
@6:45-- you're new here?
You see, David the landlord knows so much about business, unlike Garrick and Erin, so he had to entrust it to someone who knows how to be professional. It complements his strategy of allowing disgusting boarded-up buildings to accumulate violations while attempting to secure downtown-level rates for them to depress the values of his own neighboring properties, and renting to outsiders who think of it as a "dive neighborhood" and are interested in "Income 60k+."
We are in washington DC to government workers, college/grad students, and lawyers
CAN'T WAIT DAVID
@Jun 12, 2011 11:20:00 PM
Sober up b4 posting.
uummmm.... None of David's buildings are boarded up, and for a while his were the only ones on that block that were functioning. He's worked very hard to improve that block. Taxes are brutal. The people who own the boarded up places or the ones that say "for lease" don't have to pay taxes. They should be the one's you complain about.
This place will fail if this is serious: "We serve gormet hamburgers and alcohol with prices that adjust to the minute with the customer demand, like the stock market." I would HATE to be a server in that kind of place. Terrible, terrible gimmick. I hate this place already and it's not even open.
There is a write-up on the City Paper. Trolls have at it! http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2011/06/10/neighborhood-news-roundup-celebrated-summer-edition/
So, the GREAT thing about this place is that you never know if you are going to OVER or UNDER pay for your burger until you get all they way to H St. NE. I'm sure that will go over splendidly!
I'm just too worried I overpaid for my house in this "dive neighborhood" to take my chances with fluctuating burger prices.
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