You can't read the date on the closure sign (below), but this happened within the last week. Apparently the cops went in first and briefly closed Trinidad Market and Deli, AKA Mike's, (which is WIDELY rumored to sell both Scooby Snax and Bizarro [$10 for a small bag], synthetic marijuana drugs related to K2 and Spice). Then DCRA and the Department of Health went in to conduct an inspection. Here's where the story gets really weird. I'm told that the employee who was on duty during the second inspection left the keys on the counter and disappeared out the rear door mid-inspection. Nothing odd about that at all...
Trinidad Market and Deli (1322 Florida Ave) has long been considered a menace by many in the community. I raised a stink about them on Twitter last year when an employee misunderstood my order and attempted to sell me a crack pipe. I've had (as have others) issues with Mike (Yohannes A. Woldemichael) and we have clashed over things like the fact that he chose to sell a variety of electronic scales (I believe he had eight varieties on display at one point) and other items that seem to target drug dealers. For the record, Mike told me he thought the electronic scales sold so well because people were using them for "science projects."
Interesting fact: Mike (Yohannes A. Woldemichael), the owner of Trinidad Market and Deli, also owns Capitol Fine Wines and Spirits (415 H Street). He at least opened Capitol Fine Wines, and was listed as the license holder in the most recent ABRA license records available online. In completely unrelated news, 1101 Mart (1101 H Street), Brother's Liquor (1140 Florida Ave), and Schneider's of Capitol Hill (300 Mass Ave) all offer a fine selection of beer and wine (and liquor for the last two options) without the worry that your money is going to an owner whose other store/employees sell(s) drug paraphernalia and drugs in Trinidad. I'm also told that Me & My Market (1111 H Street) has recently reopened with a very nice craft beer selection.
25 comments:
"science projects"...classic
lolololol. good riddance
How sure are you of the info on Capitol Wine and Spirits?
10:20,
I am 100% sure that he opened it, and that his name is on the current ABRA stuff up online.
Capitol Fine Wines & Spirits has potential, but they need to clean up their act...apparently in more ways than one. Their storefront is an eyesore, with part of the entranceway held up with a 2x4. The bars on the windows suck too.
Now that I know about his other business dealings, I'm even less inclined to give them my money. Other great places for beer/wine are the 2 bodegas on F St. NE (1 at 7th and 1 at 8th).
Shoutout to Brothers Liquor at Florida and Montello - store has a good selection and friendly employees. Good riddance to Trinidad Market.
Adams deli at 7th and F is solid. Been going there sine 2004.
It's a shame this guy might be up to no good, because his name is super sweet. I think I want to adopt it for myself. Although as I was reading Y-o-h-a-n-n-e-s I was hoping his last name was Chimpo
Anybody know what's happening with the Family Liquor building? They were evicted a couple of weeks ago and looks like construction is happening inside now.
FU__ DA POLICE
Okay, I have no evidence, and admit it's pure speculation based on 20 years of anecdotal observation:
DC Police/sanitary/safety inspectors/etc. tend to become strict and shut businesses down mainly when developers have immediate, near-term designs on a place. I've seen it time and time again on U-street, in Adams Morgan, on 14th St., etc. Businesses (bad as well as good) that had been allowed to operate for years and years are shut down by suddenly super diligent DC inspection officials. Months or weeks later permit signs come up for the rebuild, chain retailer, or bulldozer.
It's not a shame that bad businesses like this one apparently is are shut down, it's that regular, non-developer residents' complaints are not what prompts action.
Kudos to the Police if I am wrong.
If you buy beer and wine, your money's also going to an owner that sells drugs in the Trinidad area. Just saying...
Thanks for the info! We've been to the wine store before but won't go again. The wine store at Union Market is much better anyway!
BTW, I am a very infrequent commentor but someone seems to have stolen my handle and has recently posted under the name "not a troll"...and it's not me. To whoever you are, don't be a copycat and try to think on your own.
sorry about that
whoever wrote this article sounds annoying. who cares that he owns another store and how that connects to the other store. youre not an investigative reporter, you have no credentials, nothing. you sound like someone who wants the neighborhood their way and only your way. mind your business, seriously.
"...(which is WIDELY rumored to sell both Scooby Snax and Bizarro [$10 for a small bag], synthetic marijuana drugs related to K2 and Spice)"
I don't know what any of this means, but it sounds bad. Good to hear that action was taken.
anyone know anywhere that has bath salts, that stuff ruled!
Anon 12:56 -- So you're saying that someone shouldn't write their own personal views into their personal weblog?
If you had one more neuron, you'd have a synapse.
The gossip here is delicious.
I dunno how straight the line for upped police enforcement and eminent development really is. I have definitely seen the police start to take a stronger interest in problem spots as neighborhoods develop, but I've always thought the cause-and-effect there was the other direction. Connected and indignant residents moving in and repeatedly calling the police over issues everyone else in the neighborhood had long become inured to, like corner boys. I am glad that *someone* is enforcing *something* on the corner stores that are mostly just chips, sodas, and blight. Is it so hard to evolve a little with the times and start selling something other than dented Campbell's concentrates and expired noodles?
What a bunch of moralizing in this article. Isn't anyone who sells alcohol a drug dealer? As far as I know selling scales and pipes isn't illegal. Maybe we should march on that Island Tees store..such a den of iniquity!
Yes, basing one's opinion of the dangerousness of a substance on actual science should certainly be dismissed as "moralizing." Google "bath salts" or one of the other names by which these drugs are known and you'll be hard pressed to find anything positive. This is not alcohol or weed which 1) Can be argued to have positive health effects as well as potential dangers due to misuse, 2) Can be said to be safe even if used as intended, 3) Have been judged safe enough to be legal somewhere in the US, and 4) Have their manufacture and sale regulated like (in the states where it's legal). These are unknown substances cooked up overseas with zero regard for the safety of those who use them. There's also good evidence that their sale funds terrorist activities (not so much with Natty Bo or Smirnoff). Yes, to want to get rid of those who would stoop to sell bath salts is just reflexive pearl-clutching. Thank god for your insight!
7:56, I think you've got the ticket. People grow accustomed to "normal" things, for them, until someone else says "that's not normal, or right." I'm currently fighting this battle with a long-standing business in my neighborhood that believes the public trash can in front of their business is their own private dumpster. Walking by one day, I tossed a wrapper out of my pocket into the can, a neighbor saw me, and semi-chucking told me "don't let {business} employees see you doing that...that there can is 'theirs.'" They went on to explain that they put their business trash out there every night, and have been known to yell at people for putting trash in it, since the trash they have barely fits (ed. note: it often doesn't, and ends up stacked and scattered around it, or blowing around the neighborhood). As soon as I pointed out that the law required all businesses and residential buildings with more than 4 units to have private service, and all homeowners to pay the city for trash pick up as a part of their property taxes, "where do they get off thinking they're so special they don't have to pay the same as literally everyone else," not only did that neighbor agree, but other neighbors have quietly told me they agree and have started reporting the issue, as well. And this business isn't a problem otherwise. Far from it, the owner is involved in the community and is generally a nice guy. But being a "nice guy" and a "good business" doesn't create a "special exemption" from basic laws of civil society.
For the record, I would be happy to have a discussion about whether the requirement for private service needs adjusted. But don't just say "I don't think the law is fair, I'm going to use public services instead." Get involved in changing the law. Ask me to sign a petition supporting a change to the law that would offer city-provided pickup to small businesses, or certain categories of businesses, or residences larger than 4 units. Don't stuff a public can to the brim to the point that trash ends up everywhere and I have to pick it up, and then yell at other people for using the public can for the purpose it was installed.
TL; DR
And they are open again, for what it is worth.
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