Coming soon: We reported in June 2023 that Dog Haus is leasing the former Acacia Food and Wine space at 4340 Connecticut Avenue. In late May of this year, we saw the first signs that the buildout is under way, and a few days ago, we saw the clearest sign yet: An actual sign.
Dog Haus also has locations in Dupont Circle and Bethesda if you’re interested in checking it out in the meantime.
Leaving Van Ness: The UPS Store (4401 Connecticut Avenue) is moving to Cleveland Park late this year. At the June 17th ANC 3F meeting, Van Ness Main Street executive director Gloria Garcia said the franchise owner told her they’ve outgrown the location.
“We’re already in touch with [4401 Connecticut landlord] American University because we don’t want both of those spots to be vacant,” said Garcia, referring also to the former Subway restaurant next door to the UPS Store.
Closed for good: The Avis Budget car rental behind the Days Inn at 4400 Connecticut. The location has been closed since March 24th. The parking structure (which is for sale) has also been closed for more than two months.
Bread Furst’s Politics and Prose connection: Who inspired Bread Furst founder Mark Furstenberg, at the age of 76, to open a new bakery? And why in Van Ness? Furstenberg penned a moving essay with the answers to those questions.
Friday nights are karaoke nights: At Il Supremo II (4400 Connecticut), with happy hour specials from 7 to 10 p.m.
Italian Bar gets a facelift: April 9th and June 9th Instagram posts thank Van Ness Main Street and the District for the grant money “to help our #littleengine keep chugging up that hill.”
Here’s a peek at the work in progress:
And, after the artwork was complete. This video also features a new awning over the gelato-ordering window.
Honey’s & Friends returns. The ice cream shop at 5027 Connecticut Avenue had closed for a renovation that transformed the space into a wine bar and ice cream shop. According to its website, “hours vary for now,” but it’s generally open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Join the club: Sfoglina Pasta House (4445 Connecticut) has a Pasta Club with a “curated monthly selection of house-made fresh pastas, sauces, ragus, provisions, and more unique surprises for you to enjoy at home.”
More about MOM’s. Did you know? The new Van Ness store is one of the chain’s largest. Grocery Dive reports its 3,000 to 5,000 square feet larger than the typical MOM’s, and because of that, it’s able to stock every product the chain sells. The article also gets into the reasoning behind the atypical path its aisles take.