Gopuff, an online convenience store, is planning to open a location in Van Ness.
Forest Hills Connection has learned that Gopuff will be leasing 4221-A Connecticut Avenue from Douglas Development. The location across from the UDC Student Center previously housed Sushi Para and 7-Eleven. A reader noticed in August that the two storefronts were being combined into one space.
Gopuff promises to deliver orders in 30 minutes, from small distribution centers stocked with products including snacks, drinks, pet and cleaning supplies, and over-the-counter medication. Gopuff stores also deliver alcohol. A flat fee of $1.95 is charged for delivery.
What Gopuff stores do not typically deliver to their neighborhoods is customer foot traffic. However, reports indicate some new stores include a separate retail area. Retail Dive reports Gopuff has opened some stores in Texas and Florida to customers, and plans for a San Francisco store include kiosks that walk-in customers can use to place their orders. Another such store is planned in Philadelphia, Gopuff’s hometown.
Douglas Development Senior Vice President Matthew Jemal confirms that Gopuff intends to open a location in Van Ness, but he tells Forest Hills Connection he does not know whether the store will be open to walk-in customers. We have contacted Gopuff to ask for more information.
4221 Connecticut is also home to Laliguras Indian and Nepali Cuisine, and Domaine Wine Storage. For several decades, the building housed a Rolls Royce and Pontiac showroom and service center. Douglas Development purchased 4221 and 4215 Connecticut in 2000.