Last fall, Forest Hills Connection conducted a retail survey on Van Ness retail needs and wants. The results of the restaurant section of the survey found a split between our neighborhood’s residents and workers.
The number one choice for those who live nearby was for a casual, kid-friendly restaurant. For those who work nearby, it was a quick pick-up place like Chipotle. The number two choice for both residents and workers was a pub, bar or tavern.
To be successful in our area, since rent is not cheap, a restaurant must to be able to serve the needs of workers and residents, and do catering for office events. Uzi Turker, the owner and manager of Acacia Bistro & Wine Bar at 4340 Connecticut, wants to do all three.
He lives in the neighborhood, on Windom Place, with his wife and 11-year-old son, a student at Deal Middle School. Turker was born in Istanbul. He came to the United States for graduate school, studying hospitality management in Miami. In 2000, he opened Wellness Cafe, a health food store and deli on Capitol Hill.
Acacia Bistro, which opened in 2009, was to be a cousin of the Wellness Cafe, but neighborhood feedback changed his focus. Neighbors wanted a place to sit and enjoy their meals – a “real” restaurant.
With our help, Turker is again seeking feedback from neighbors and those who come to the area for work, school, shopping, the Metro stop and more. Please take a few minutes to fill out the questionnaire below, or click here to open the survey in a new window or browser tab.