Would a Yes Organic grocery store be a welcome retail addition on east end of #HStreetNE? Comparable size to their location on Barracks Row.Would you shop at such a market? Any guesses as to a possible location of the proper size? Hechinger Mall? Somewhere on H Street proper? Also, did you hear that Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie is looking into getting H Street Main Street to include a lower portion of Bladensburg Road?
— Charles Allen (@CharlesAllenDC) April 5, 2013
Friday, April 05, 2013
Is the East End of H Street Getting a Yes! Market?
I certainly think an organic market/health food store would be quite welcome on this end of the H Street Corridor. Speculation began in earnest today after Tommy Wells' (who is also running for Mayor) Chief of Staff tweeted the following question:
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Got to be, got to be Hechinger Mall. It just makes so much sense. Tons of parking, tons of space.
Could a Yes! fit in the retail space at the Atlas Flats? I thought it could possibly be there, but that space is probably too small. Hechinger Mall, near Ross, has some space.
I would give anything for a Trader Joe's.
I read somewhere that Aldi and Trader Joes are (or at one time were) owned by the same company. Wouldn't it be great for Aldi to become a Trader Joes sometime?
Yes, Aldi and TJ's are owned by the same family ... rival factions of it. And no, it would generally mean higher prices.
Aldi has a better business model, so they can charge lower prices for equivalent products. For example, $2 Southwest-style Black Bean Soup vs. $3 Latin Style Black Bean Soup. The store-brand salted caramels and Green&Blacks are also excellent choices already available locally. They don't carry everything that TJ's has, but I didn't notice lobster the last I was at Trader Joe's either.
Interesting. Relatedly, the owners of the Murry's lot and also soon-to-be owners of the H Street Storage lot are apparently in talks with at least two specialty grocers. No agreement in place, but talks are advanced enough that the developer has ask for flexibility in zoning permit to move ahead with a grocery store if an agreement does come about. Murray's has a lease thru 2017, but the owners would like to redevelop sooner if possible.
They are also looking at a gym (a la Reach or Vita) for H St Storage side. Of course, all this development would be part of a much larger apartment/condo project.
TJ and Aldi have the same business model (keep the cost down) but sell different products to different income demographics. I certainly enjoy buying marzipan bar from Aldi, but to get the fresh produce I would do anything to get a TJ in the neighborhood. Please don't say they are the same and TJ is just more expensive. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.
Somebody told me that a Whole Foods was coming. So maybe the Yes! was just a test to see how an organic market would resonate with the locals.
The Aldi brothers are some of the richest people in Germany. They split up the country into North and South 30 years ago. One brother recently died.
That's the first time I've heard someone say Trader Joe's has good produce! I agree with those that say Aldi is just a less expensive version of Trader Joe's. Sure, Trader Joe's is cuter, their products have nicer packaging, and they don't attract poor people, but the products are essentially the same.
I can't imagine one opening up at Hechinger Mall. With a Safeway in the same mall and an Aldi's next door, I would think there would be too much competition. I think that a better location would be on the 1000-1300 block. I am assuming 1000-1400 based on the tweet of the Eastern End. Is Murray's really on the eastern end of H Street.
I could see a Yes! there
Can someone please bring a gym to the neighborhood? There are plenty of options for groceries in the area.
I want to leave my vote for Trader Joe's too!
I can't imagine one opening up at Hechinger Mall. With a Safeway in the same mall and an Aldi's next door, I would think there would be too much competition
^ Completely different markets. The people who want to shop at Yes Organic are different from the people who would shop at the Hechinger Safeway, just due to pricing differences alone, I'd argue.
I'm all for a Yes Organic on H Street for the access to organic produce, for which I'm willing to pay a premium (not everyone is, understandably).
It would be nice to have a Yes! On the hill since the one at Eastern Market closed.
I would love to see a Yes! on H St. I think it would be a big stretch to put it in the Hechinger Mall though. It is not a very walkable location, so thus would not be convenient unless you have a car.
ugh, no! you can get organics at safeway. yes! is overpriced and their produce is often rotten or tasteless. trader joe's would be a gold mine!
I agree. Say No to Yes! The most overpriced store in DC area. Their prices are 50% more than Whole Foods. No kidding!
I want a pony!
Yes! Organic Market sort of sucks-- expensive and few choices... that said, I could see it working at Hechinger Mall or maybe that new large-ish space for lease near the Argonaut, or perhaps as an anchor for the new condo development at 14th & Maryland.
The space in the Flats at Atlas is ~4,500 sf while the Yes! on barracks row is ~3,500 sf. FYI.
So many insightful comments, so much business acumen, so impressive.
Shocking that Prince of Petworth hasn't read this and put up one of his "scuttlebutt" posts, claiming the scoop as his own.
Hey PoP, when's that Whole Foods coming in?
Have to say I've never been impressed by Yes.
Expensive. Limited selection. Surly staff.
And unnecessary use of exclamation point.
But I'd welcome one anyway.
I wouldn't shop at Yes!. I can already get overpriced organic food at the local grocery stores. But I would definitely go to a Trader Joes. The ones in Virginia currently get my money so it'd be nice to have one closer to home.
re: complaints about limited selection at Yes, it depends on your dietary choices...if you're vegan or vegetarian, I'd say Yes has everything you need. For my meat eating friends, I imagine you'd like more of a fish/meat selection (although they have that as well, just limited selection). I eat fish and chicken on occasion myself, so I see both sides of the argument.
Assuming all the square footage figures quoted by commenters above me are accurate, I think a Yes Organic in the retail space at Atlas Flats would be ideal (built in customer base and would bring new retail to Bladensberg).
Might have to retract my vegan reference in my prior post, I know more about being a vegetarian than being a vegan, don't want to lead any vegans astray here (ha). I do think Yes has a better organic selection than any other store in the area, by far.
Would LOVE to see a Yes! at Atlas, definitely would shop there.
Funny thing is, I'd probably go if it was on H Street. Probably not if it's in the Hechinger Mall. The thought of walking across all that asphalt doesn't do it for me. And if I'm going to get in the car and drive there anyway, I'll probably just go to Costco, or Eastern Market, etc...
Weird how that huge moat of parking acts as a mental barrier.
@12:25, agree. The entire NE Hill, Hill East, H St/Atlas District, Rosedale, Kingman Park area is starving for a gym much more than another grocery store!
Welcome to the land of political wannabes, where every city councilman has a "Chief of Staff."
Gym. I lift weights. No big deal.
NW quadrant has highest number of gyms.
SE has Results and WSC
even SW has Gold's Gym
NE has none. Just to put it in perspective.
in NE, there is plenty of excercise, Jacking cars, busting caps in ass and booking from the law :-)
I want a high-end wig store. Like where Patti LaBelle and Phil Spector shopped. Screw bow ties and trilbies, whats that on your head? a WIG!!!! ITS ON FIRE!!!!
@inked: Can you find out if there is any plan for a gym? Are any investors looking into it? I find it shocking that people are so nuts for a 3rd(!) neighborhood organic food vendor, but no one brings up exercise as a necessary component of a healthy lifestyle.
we need to have organic grocery store in the area of Northeast. There are Giant, Harris Teeter, and Safeway. Where is organic store in the area? Yes! are limited products and way too expensive than Whole Foods and Trader's Joe. I vote for Whole Foods!!!
I would absolutely love to get a Yes! Organic Market near the Eastern end of H! Any idea where it will go?
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