Local News Round-Up: Ramen & The Little Grand Coming, O-Ku & The Eleanor Opening, & Solid State's New Home

We have a bit of a news places news round-up this morning. A little over a year ago a post from the @TheX2Bus twitter account caught my eye with news that IMM on H Thai & Sushi Lounge (1360 H Street NE) was expanding into the space next door at 1362 H Street NE. At the time, they appeared to be actively working on the space. It seems plans have shifted a bit. Laura Hayes of the Washington City Paper tweeted Monday that Kitsuen Ramen + Hookah Bar is now coming to 1362 H St. NE, and that the new ramen restaurant will share owners with the nightclub Saint Yves (1220 Connecticut Avenue NW).

Jon Bannister, who wrote a Bisnow piece on new spots opening around town, tweeted opening dates for two local spots. He says O-Ku, which "celebrates authentic Asian cuisine with a southern approach through a menu that focuses on unique ingredients and sophisticated presentations," will open on Friday at (1274 Fifth Street NE). Bannister gives Monday as the expected opening date for The Eleanor (100 Florida Avenue NE), which you can read about in this Eater DC article from late May. The Eleanor is associated with Chef Adam Stein of Bar Elena (414 H Street NE). If you want to know more about O-Ku and its menu, check out this newly published WCP piece O-Ku Opens Friday, Get a First Look at the Modern Japanese Menu or this one from Eater DC,  Look at the Artful Japanese Fare Served at Union Market’s O-Ku. Eater DC also has posted some beautiful photos of the interior and rooftop.

PoPville posted last week about The Little Grand, a new concept from the folks behind All Souls (725 T Street NE), headed for the Apollo building (600 H Street NE). As PoPville notes, District Cuisine posted last year about seeing a real estate brochure noting that All Souls Bar would open a location in the Apollo.

We've also got some very exciting no-food news. Solid State Books (600 H Street NE), which has been popping up down the street from its permanent home for months, held the first event in its forever space last night. Trinidad resident and book lover @ker_dc was there for last night's reading and says she heard the store could open for good in the new space within days.