Our nation’s capital is ringed with Apple stores in Virginia and Maryland, but until now has not hosted a store within the District itself. Apple is now finalizing a real estate deal for a flagship store on what’s called “the best corner of the most powerful city in the world,” at Wisconsin and M Street NW in the city’s Georgetown area. The space at 3150 M Street NW is now occupied by the legendary Nathan’s Restaurant, a Zagat-rated, wood-paneled hang-out for those who crave American classic cuisine. The restaurant’s lease expires in April 2009, but the operation will vacate in late 2008, leaving a 2,500 square-foot lot for Apple to develop into a two or three-story flagship store.
The area is booming, especially with in influx of high-end retailers, some destined for the Shops at Georgetown Park mall in the adjacent block. The space is owned by the Heon family, which has reportedly been charging Nathan’s $20,000 a month for the three-story building. DC real estate experts say the area has become too expensive for restaurants, forcing Nathan’s owner Carol Joynt to find another spot.The land is assessed by the city at $519,000, and the building at $788,050.
The building is not heritage classified, but the area is within an historic district, so approval would be required for Apple to demolish the building and put up a new structure, a process that is reportedly not as difficult as some other cities. Fortunately, the Shops at Georgetown Park includes a 650-car underground parking garage, in the midst of an area with very limited street parking.
Check this Web page and video for more information about Nathan’s, and the Q & A Cafe that has made it even more famous.
Update: Carol Joynt, who operates the restaurant, says she has no set plans on moving from the building, let alone leaving before the lease is up. She says the building owner has received inquiries from various retailers, but she has not heard those include Apple. On Oct. 2nd she says the “hot word on the street” is that Apple purchased the building housing the French Connection women’s clothing store at 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW for $13.7 million, which is just 300 feet north of the Q & A Cafe. Read this story.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Georgetown???? Nooooooooooo!!!!!!
I understand why Apple favors the upper crust shopping districts for their stores, but Georgetown has to be one of the worst choices. Not only is parking limited, but it’s also difficult to get there using transit. The Clarendon and Pentagon City stores are easier to get to than this store will be.
There are so many better areas in the city to open a flagship store that would also meet Apple’s demographic criteria.
“the best corner of the most powerful city in the world,†– quite an egotistical comment, with respect to the establishment, and country itself.
I don’t think that this is a good location for DC’s first Apple store, though it would be great for its second. Apple should put a flagship store somewhere downtown where it is Metro accessible, somewhere near the Metro Center or Gallery Place stops. That would capitalize on a location easily accessible from all the major universities and offices in the city, as well as the northern and eastern suburbs. Georgetown is too hard to get to and to park in, and no one is going to Georgetown who isn’t also going to be near the Bethesda store at some point.
The building currently on this site may not be historic, but the property is in a designated historic district with strict architectural guidelines in place for new construction. It will be interesting to see what kind of building Apple proposes in order to meet those guidelines. [IFO -- Story updated.]
Yes, Georgetown is all cachet and no convenience or business sense. Better downtown so that business people and conventioneers (who need last minute equipment/repairs) can easily get to it, or in Northwest on the Red Line. The Park and Shop at Cleveland Park would be a good place.
There’s a big white building on Pennsylvania Ave. that might be aq good choice when the current tenant’s “lease” expires!
It’s centrally located in an area with many tourists and foreigners that are looking to purchase influ (oops) electronic devices (oops again?)
Few ‘genius’s’ at present, but lots of room for help desks!
:)
Georgetown sucks by car, but really isn’t too bad by Metro (or by bike, as I found out earlier this week coming from Capitol Hill). After all, there’s a Metro stop right underneath at the Shops.
I certainly wouldn’t classify it as “the best corner”, though. That’s just silly. Then again, the spaces that would be even better are either mostly taken up by stronger entities than even Apple or simply undesirable.
Georgetown is the perfect location for an Apple Store. Its close proximity to Georgetown and George Washington Universities make it ideal for the younger crowd. Aside from the wealthy residents, there are plenty of poeple who commute along that intersection going into and out of the city. Many of the downtown areas are deserted unless it is a weekday (i.e. along K St NW), during events (Penn Quarter/Verizon Center area), or a week night (Adams Morgan). This is not to say these places are not attractive for an Apple Store, but Georgetown remains consistently busy all year long. When the school or legislative sessions are out the tourism will make up the difference. That intersection also has a Circulator Bus stop (along with Metro) and tons of cabs. It may not be Metro rail, but the Rosslyn and GW/Foggy Bottom stations are not too far away. There are plenty of architects and design people who live or work in Georgetown. Many politcians frequent the bars and upscale dining along M St.
Unfortunately, Georgetown is the only actual high-end retail district in downtown DC. It sucks, I know– no transit, bad traffic, all the personality (book stores, movie theaters, markets, restaurants, etc) has fled, leaving only big-ticket national retail. So, now the tourists will be able to go to an Apple store in DC.
Hey folks. A lot has been said about Georgetown, but as others have said there are other places. Union station would be nice, the shops near 16 and K would be nice too. Since someone mentioned the Convention center and metro center, I wouldnt be surprised if Gallery Place, Verizon Center Chinatown is not being considered.
It’s about time downtown Washington had an Apple store, but I’m a little bummed. Nathan’s is where my parents met.
About time. I work at one of the “local” Apple stores, and this has been long overdue. Although it’s not metro-accessible, there’s a bus that costs $1.50 ($1.25?) from the metro that drops off right in front of the proposed location.
Oh yeah, and it’s 5 blocks from where I currently live. =)
There’s a better spot in Dupont Circle next to the PNC Bank. It’s right next to the Dupont North Metro Exit. Georgetown is a pain to get to.
The Washington Business Journal says that the French Connection store on Wisconsin was sold to them.
“there’s a Metro stop right underneath at the Shops.”
No there isn’t. The closest Metro stop to Georgetown is at Foggy Bottom, about 3/4 of a mile walk. You might be thinking about the National Press Building.