There/here goes/comes the neighborhood: Murrys mkt demolition makes way for Whole Foods on #HSt DC pic.twitter.com/KWjADGO3Rt
— Evan Pérez (@evanperez) September 25, 2014
In what is certainly the end of an era, the building at 610 H Street that most recently housed a decidedly downmarket Murry's grocery store, has been demolished. That building, along with most of the block, is set to become a huge mixed-use (residential and retail) development called The Apollo. The Apollo will be anchored by no less than a Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods is kind of like the holy grail for gentrification cheerleaders. I doubt anyone wants to argue against that idea, but it's still striking to look at the result of Googling the two terms together.
Expect delivery of the Apollo in late 2016, and completion sometime in 2017. Some on Twitter seem a bit wistful, and I kind of feel the same. Nothing against Whole Foods, Murry's just seems symbolic. While we're looking both back and forward, I thought I might share this nice Washington City Paper glance at the history of 6th and H Street.
Murry's in 2012
When I first moved to the area (back in 2001) I dated someone who lived across the street from the Murry's, so I actually used to shop there quite a bit. The selection back then wasn't great (this was before they remodeled the store and upgraded the produce section, which had previously prominently featured eternally green bananas and rotting mangos), but they could always be counted on for bread, milk, eggs, butter, onions, garlic, and some decent gingersnaps.
LOC Call number: LC-F82- 2337[P&P]
For those who don't already know, the Apollo takes its name from the Apollo Theatre that once occupied the ground where the Self Storage now stands. Below is a rendering of the Apollo.
11 comments:
As someone who lives on 6th St, I could not be more excited. I am definitely not sad to see the demolition crew at Murry's. Now, if Insight was tearing the old Apollo Theater down to make way for the WF, then that would be a tragedy.
1:21,
I will definitely enjoy the Whole Foods once it opens. Just actually seeing the demolition of Murry's feels a little odd. Not because I loved the grocery store particularly (though it does hold some memories), but for symbolic reasons. Murry's-->Whole Foods=!!! For me, it's certainly the most striking single change on H Street, and we're talking about a street that has seen A LOT of (mostly positive) change in recent years.
You got it right today. Demolition of the building did begin today.
1:53,
Thanks. Definitely the version I saw floating around recently. I found the PR stuff.
Great news on the Whole Foods. Anyone heard anything about when the H Street Connection project might get off the ground? It was one of the first I remember hearing about, but Rappaport has been awfully slow in moving it forward.
Totally not feasible, but it would've been cool if they could've included a movie theater in the development with a façade that mimicked the old Apollo. I guess I'll take the Whole Foods instead.
There was an H St Connection rep at the festival, and I think she said they were hoping to start in 6 months or a year, but they didn't have a definite date.
Interesting read on gentrification posted in Jacobin today - using DC as an example. Includes mention of the H street trolley - tension between fried chicken and gourmet pickles...
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/09/liberalism-and-gentrification/
LOL@Jacobin - posting an article in a left-wing socialist publication? Let me cite a BreitBart article for you real quick...
a theater would be awesome...
Perhaps across the street when they rip down the strip mall?
@Hipsterama
If it's an article about the subject published on Breitbart that you find interesting or convincing, go ahead.
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