ShawMainStreets and Mayor Gray: 7 Ribbon Cuttings in 2 Hours

Last year Mayor Gray and ShawMainStreets 'Rocked in Shaw' with 3 ribbon cuttings in an hour (Baby Whale, Tally & Mandalay)  This year with the growth in Shaw being such, its 7 new business's in 2.....

Below is the Press Release from Alex Padro the Executive Director of Shaw Main Streets

Ribbon-Cutting Marathon: Mayor Gray to Cut Ribbons at Seven New Businesses in Less Than Two Hours, including New Restaurants and a Hotel, June 2, 2014

On June 2, 2014, Shaw Main Streets will host Mayor Vincent C. Gray and other invited guests as ribbons are cut celebrating the opening of seven new businesses, including new African, Italian, and seafood restaurants, a muffin shop, a salon, and a Starbucks. The event is free and open to the public.  Participating venues will offer samples of food and beverage offerings or other refreshments.

At 10:30 AM, the ribbon cutting marathon will start at the Cambria Suites at 899 O Street, NW, a 180-room all suites hotel that is part of the City Market at O development (www.cambriadc.com).  Included in the hotel is Urban Kitchen, a small plates restaurant on the second floor.

The second stop on the Ribbon-Cutting Marathon is right next door at 815 O Street, NW, where Starbucks has opened their newest Washington, DC location (www.starbucks.com).

 Then there’s a sprint to 1817 7^th Street, NW, where Uprising Muffin Company owner Donnie Simpson, Jr. will have fresh coffee and freshly-baked muffins ready (www.uprisingmuffins.com).  Right next door, Fishnet’s first DC location (original restaurant is in College Park, MD) is ready to serve their popular fish sandwiches and tacos for lunch and dinner (1819 7^th Street, NW, www.fishnet.com). Owner/chef Ferhat Yalcin was formerly the general manager of Shaw’s Corduroy Restaurant.

A few long strides up the block is Wanda’s on 7^th, an all-new salon and spa from the only business owner returning to Progression Place from before the redevelopment of the site, with neighborhood favorite Wanda Henderson at the helm (1851 7^th Street, NW www.wandason7th.com). Then there’s a dash to 9^th Street to 1924 9^th Street, NW, Lower Level, where owner Prince Makey’s Appioo African Bar and Grill serves West African cuisine at lunch and dinner time (www.appioorestaurant.com).

And the finish line will be at Dino’s Grotto (1914 9^th Street, NW, www.dinoinshaw.com), where the team from Dino in Cleveland Park, led by chef/owner Dean Gold, has brought Italian favorites from their former location and paired them with new, small plate selections and two bars.

Shaw Main Streets’ website (www.shawmainstreets.org) features a running list of businesses that have signed leases along the historic 7^th and 9^th Streets, NW, commercial corridors, with 11 listings following the opening of the Ribbon Cutting Marathon businesses. All of those 11 businesses are food and beverage establishments.  Of the approximately 130 businesses that have opened in central Shaw since Shaw Main Streets began operations, the vast majority have been restaurants and bars.

  “Seven new businesses, combined with another eight openings earlier in the year, means that we’re ahead of schedule in our race to open at least 20 new businesses in central Shaw this year,” says Alexander M. Padro, executive director of the non-profit Shaw Main Streets, which is hosting the ribbon cuttings.  “Back when we started in 2003, we’d be happy if we had a handful of openings to celebrate each year,” Padro continues. “Now, they’re coming so fast that the only way we can schedule ribbon cuttings is three, five, or seven at a time.”

Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets local program, funded in part by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development, Vincent C. Gray, Mayor.