Glover Park Gazette September
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Glover Park SEPTEMBER 2019 The Monthly Newsletter of the Glover Park Citizens' Association Will Trader Joe's Provide the Spark? Randy Rieland he revolving door that is the Glover Park business community kept spin- ning over the summer, and the good Tnews is that a big name in retail made its entrance. In July, Trader Joe’s, the novel neighbor- hood grocery, opened its fifth D.C. store at 2101 Wisconsin Avenue, just a few blocks down the street from the long-shuttered Whole Foods. “Everyone has been very nice to us,” said Tom Senior, the store’s manager. “We have also reconnected with some folks that shopped at other locations and they are very excited for us to be here.” He said that although the new Trader Joe’s has been open only a month and a half, it’s become clear that wine and cheese are favorites of local shoppers. So are pet treats. “It’s great to have Trader Joe’s here, and undoubtedly been a factor in the recent bump “We have seen quite a few animal lovers from what I’ve seen, it’s attracting customers,” in storefront vacancies. But so have escalat- at the store and they’ve told us their pets are she said. “There hasn’t been much buzz about ing rents and changing demographics from hooked,” Senior said. it, however—maybe because it’s summer. It younger adults in group houses to more It’s still way too soon, however, to will be a while before we can assess any sense young families. say if Trader Joe’s can provide the spark to of impact.” In an effort to aid the local business revitalize a business community that has In the past few years, the stream of busi- community in regaining its footing, a group sagged since Whole Foods shut down back nesses leaving the neighborhood’s business of neighborhood residents called the Glover in March 2017. The pre-trial discovery phase district has been heavier than those arriving. Park Alliance will soon be submitting an ap- of the prolonged legal battle between Whole Among those that have left are Brueggers Ba- plication for a grant from D.C.’s Main Streets Foods—now owned by Amazon—and Wical gels, Starbucks, Rite-Aid, Mad Fox Brewery, program. It’s a public-private partnership Partnership, the property’s landlord, just Heritage India, Jimmy Johns and Mason Inn. designed to help revitalize business corridors ended last month. Over the summer, Surfside announced that in the city through retaining and recruiting To recap: After the store received notices after 12 years in Glover Park, it will close its businesses and improving commercial prop- from the District for a rodent problem, restaurant here later this year. It plans to open erties and streetscapes. Blumenthal said the Whole Foods wanted to do an extensive a new location in Tenleytown in October. Alliance should hear by the end of September renovation. But because the project would Angelico’s Pizza also will close here at the end if it will receive a Main Streets grant. have taken longer than the 60 days permitted of the year. In the meantime, the staff at Trader in the rental contract, Wical threatened to Going against that flow are Wingo’s, Joe’s is doing its part to connect with its new terminate the lease. Whole Foods sued Wical. which moved into the Mad Fox space a year neighborhood. For starters, it has gone heavy So it goes. ago and Pont Chaud Creperie, which will on stained glass signs as a nod to the notable Goings and Comings. While she soon open in the Starbucks location. Also, structure a bit up Wisconsin Avenue. said she’s happy to see Trader Joe’s settle into Laliguras Bistro, an Indian and Nepalese res- “In preparation for the opening, we did Glover Park, Jackie Blumenthal, vice chair of taurant, should open in the Brueggers Bagels some research to develop our store’s theme,” the local Advisory Neighborhood Commis- space this fall. Senior said. “We saw that one of Charles sion (ANC), isn’t ready to declare it a turning The loss of Whole Foods as a draw to Glover’s accomplishments was the building of point. the retail strip on Wisconsin Avenue has the National Cathedral.” 2 Join In • Make a Difference Glover Park Participate • Get Involved • Engage Glover Park Citizens' Association (GPCA) President Karen Pataky ([email protected]) Trader Joe's.........................................1 1st Vice President Jack Everett ([email protected]) 2nd Vice President Allen Tomlinson ([email protected]) President’s Report............................3 Treasurer Maggie Simpson ([email protected]) Secretary Sally Everett ([email protected]) Sergeant at Arms Frank Martorana ([email protected]) GPCA September Agenda.............3 Federation Reps Patricia Clark, Frank Martorana, and Karen Pataky GPCA May Minutes..........................3 Membership Director Allen Tomlinson ([email protected]) Glover Park Day Amanda Gant and Cheri Meyer ([email protected] and [email protected]) ANC3B News......................................4 Stoddert Liaison Lisa McCluskey ([email protected]) Gazette Staff Dig This!...............................................5 Editor Sheila Meehan ([email protected]) Contributor Randy Rieland Glover Park History..........................5 Design and Production Lisa McCluskey Contacts Poem ....................................................5 Advertising Maggie Simpson ([email protected]) Editorial [email protected] Delivery Maria O'Donnell ([email protected] Guy Mason Programs......................6 The Gazette is distributed throughout Glover Park by volunteers. If you do not receive the Babes in the Nabe ...........................6 Gazette and/or would like to volunteer, contact Elaine Sullivan at [email protected]. Responsible letters to the editor will be published as space allows. What’s new in Glover Park? Check us out on both Facebook and Twitter! Glover Park Day Fun .......................6 Call us at: 202-379-4824. Community Yard Sale ....................8 Visit www.gpcadc.org to keep up with community news! If you love living in Glover Park, get involved! Join the Glover Park Citizens' Association today! Generously support the group that takes care of your neighborhood. Preserve the family-friendly quality of our community. Communicate your ideas to improve your neighborhood. Act locally to get things done. 1 Adult / Glover Park Resident = $20 Return form and fee to GPCA, P.O. Box 32268, Washington, DC 20007 2 Adults / Same Address = $35 Make check payable to GPCA. 3 Adults / Same Address = $50 4 Adults / Same Address = $60 1 Senior / Glover Park Resident = $15 Name(s) 2 Seniors / Same Address = $25 1 Adult / Non-Resident / Non-Voting = $20 Address 1 Senior / Non-Resident / Non-Voting = $15 Business / Corporation / Non-Voting = $75 US Military Veteran / Active or Retired = $5 Discount Total Enclosed: $____ / Date:_______ Email Glover Park Gazette 3 President’s Report In the Afterglow of a Great Glover Park Day Karen Pataky une brought us the best ever Glover Park Some exciting new restaurants have Glover Park Citizens Association Day #30. Highlights included a new layout opened on Wisconsin Avenue. I have eaten Tuesday, September 3, 7 p.m. on Guy Mason’s ballfield and a zipline, at all of them and encourage everyone to Jwhich many attendees, including our Council- welcome the proprietors and enjoy both the GP Community Center at Stoddert member Mary Cheh, enjoyed. creative foods and special drinks at Eerkins Agenda Mayor Bowser also joined us and Uyghur Cuisine and Tea Bar, Wingo’s Glover Police Report presented the Glover Park Day Team with a Park, and Moge (bubble)Tee DC. Of course, Proclamation of “June 1, 2019, as Glover Park we all continue to enjoy our longtime favorite Manager, New Trader Joe’s Day.” The beautifully framed Proclamation restaurants as well. Glover Park Day #30: Proclamation will be shown off at our September GPCA And Glover Park has a grocery store meeting and then will be displayed at Guy Ma- again! Trader Joe’s opened Saturday, July 20. Linda Jones, New Head of son Recreation Center for all to enjoy forever. It is the first business to open in the devel- Georgetown Public Library It has been the summer of rain and more opment on the site of the old Holiday Inn. Guy Mason Activities rain, and then dreadful heat waves. We have Hooray! seen an unusual abundance of wading pools Please join us for the September GPCA GPCA Meeting Signage and frequent water hose wet-downs of our meeting on Tuesday September 3. Special Treasurer’s Report children and our dogs, and our birdbaths and guests scheduled are Tom Senior, manager of gardens. Trader Joe’s and Linda Jones, Chief Librarian Membership Report Hopefully autumn will be temperate of the Georgetown Public Library. Secretary’s Report enough that we can enjoy eating and drinking Welcome back from your summers and New Business outside again. Happy Autumn to All! GPCA May Minutes • Sally Everett President Karen Pataky called the meeting to One questioner enquired about the state having concluded the benches and plaques order at 7:09 p.m. of local streets and asked when the numerous “Streetscape” program and disbursing funds Police Report. Sergeant B. Firehock potholes would be fixed. The presenters noted to the Glover Park Community Fund. In provided data for the prior 30-day period in that each ward is allocated the same funding addition, there was a loss of $1,000–$1500 204 PSA and compared it with the same pe- for pothole repairs and that the 2020 budget due to nonrefundable deposits and other riod in 2018. No violent crimes or homicides added $65 million for improvements, with expenses when the 2018 Glover Park Day had were reported. a goal of eliminating all poor quality roads to be postponed from June to September.