The opening of luxury luggage store Tumi at Hines’ CityCenterDC was the retail highlight of 2013 as the first of over 25 high-quality destination retailers opening at CityCenterDC through 2014. Allen Edmonds opened in early 2014, and Kate Spade, Burberry, Longchamp, Zadig & Voltaire and Hugo Boss are due to follow. More CityCenterDC luxury retailer announcements are expected in the spring of 2014.
Douglas Development’s continued retail growth on F Street strongly contributes to Downtown’s retail mix. American Eagle is set to open in the firm’s new office building at 1000 F Street; the GAP will open in the Lerner Building at 664 11th Street across from H&M; and Potomac Runners will open on the 900-block of F Street. The redevelopment of 915 F Street will add to the continuity of F Street shopping. Ruben Companies, Akridge, GLL Real Estate and Quadrangle Development Corp. all lease to destination retailers who contribute significantly to the vitality of F Street retail.
The largest Downtown retail opening in 2013 was Marshall’s in the National Press Building. Macy’s Department Store on G Street between 12th and 13th streets and Gallery Place’s retail, next to the Verizon Center, both contribute to the mixed-use vitality throughout the Downtown. The only recent destination retail closing in Downtown was the closing of Guess in April 2014.
Downtown restaurants continue to perform extremely well. CityCenterDC recently announced an impressive line-up of restaurants including Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, Daniel Boulud’s DBGB Kitchen and Bar and Mango Tree by Richard Sandoval. Ten restaurants opened and five existing restaurants closed in Downtown in 2013—for a net gain of five restaurants. At the end of 2013, 140 destination restaurants were located in Downtown.
The Clyde Group’s three Downtown restaurants, Old Ebbitt Grill, The Hamilton and Clyde’s of Gallery Place, lead the impressive roster of Downtown destination restaurants and together grossed approximately $60 million in 2013, up 4 percent over 2012. Old Ebbitt Grill, with over $25 million in sales, is one of the top restaurants in the nation in terms of revenue.
Longtime Downtown restaurateur Passion Food Hospitality is increasing its presence from three to four restaurants with the opening of Penn Commons at 700 6th Street. ThinkFoodGroup is opening China Chilcano on 7th Street south of the Lansburgh Theatre. Significant 2013 openings included Casa Luca (by Fabio and Maria Trabocchi, owners of Fiola), Del Campo, NoPa Kitchen + Bar (by Ashok Bajaj, owner of 701 Restaurant, Rasika and Bibiana) and MXDC (by Todd English). Thirteen restaurant openings have been announced for 2014, compared to two announced closings in 2014 as of April 2014. Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (with over 450 seats), Toro Toro (by Richard Sandoval) and Mastro’s (from Mastro’s LLC) in the old M&S Grill space all opened in the spring of 2014. By the end of 2014, Downtown will have 151 destination restaurants.