01 Jul 2009

Five Questions: P&C Market

This week, Pablo and Chase, the P & C behind P&C Market at 1023 East Capitol St. SE (right on Lincoln Park), answer five questions about their shop, the Hill, and the confluence of the two. With any luck “Five Questions” will become a regular feature here at The Hill Is Home. It’s a great way to start to get to know your neighbors here on the Hill!

How did P&C come about?

Mostly through serendipity.  I (Chase Moore) own a real estate brokerage firm and had been asked by my friends Kirsten and Opi, who at the time owned 328 Massachusetts Ave. NE, also former home of Surroundings, to sell their building for them, and from that budded a friendship with Charles and John who purchased the real estate here at 1023 East Capitol to move into as well as serve the needs of Surroundings.

IMG_0028After selling 328 Mass Ave., Charles and John approached me about selling the business for them that was Lincoln Park Market.  Now Pablo and I have been all over the world together from South America to Asia, but we most often gravitate to western Europe and as trite as it sounds, we fall in love over and over again with the neighborhoods that make up the great cities of Europe; especially their small markets that we seek out on day trips for a baguette, meats, cheeses, and of course wine.  We both feel strongly that while big box grocers are wonderfully convenient, they lack soul or anything even remotely unique.  Fast forward to last fall when John and Charles approached me about selling the Lincoln Park Market, Pablo and I had several long discussions about the market and decided to purchase it ourselves and do our best to re-create what it is we love about markets in other parts of the world.

We’ve tried to, over the course of the past 6 months, let the neighborhood grow with our vision.  We both felt it would have been disastrous to immediately go from the old market to where we are today with product lines and we aren’t done yet.

Why did you choose the Hill?

Actually, I will say that I chose this specific location because of its position on the Hill.  I’ve kept an office for the past few years just behind the Eastern Market Metro stop and have sold a lot of real estate on the Hill, so I’ve always been very keen on the area in general, but I LOVE Lincoln Park.  There is just a different feel around these few blocks and arguably there are very few services and certainly none of the caliber that we envisioned.  That made the corner on the park perfect in our minds. We are big cocktail/dinner party fans.  Tapas, small plates, cheeses and great wine are our idea of heaven and knowing my clients the way I do, I knew it was theirs as well.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the mongers at Eastern Market but Pablo and I felt the neighborhood could use something a little more intimate.

How do you choose products?

First and foremost, I have to give a huge shout out to our food and wine consultant Brett Freeman who is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and a sommelier, to boot.  Brett has been instrumental is helping us source some amazing products.  There are several criteria that products must meet, among those are:  Do we or would we use it in our kitchens or serve it to our guests (often times the answer is, we already have)?  Secondly, is it of an exceptional quality?  Thirdly, does it have a story to tell?  I don’t want to say we are anti large producers, but I think I speak for all of us that we were very concerned after last summer’s rash of toxin discoveries found in all kinds of food products.  P&C Market wants to connect people back to “who” it is that is making the foods and “what” is in them.  The other side of this is that we are in an exciting time with regard to food.  A lot of people (I count myself among them) are disillusioned with chasing fulfillment in Corporate America and as a result are now chasing passions in the food and wine industry, or farming of all things.  I could go on and on, but we get really excited chasing down products people come in and tell us about what they just discovered while trekking through VA or MD.  One of our lovely customers brought to our attention Caromont down in Esmont, VA, a great producer of chevre.  Another turned us onto Polyface Farms to which we have all become devotees.  We go gaga for locally or regionally produced products that are truly exceptional.

What do you love about the Hill?

Diversity.  Wow, talk about a microcosm of socio/politico/economic/ethnic/cultural diversity.  Capitol Hill is truly a mixing pot in all the best ways. And for the most part people leave their work at work.  Obviously there are notables that come in the store, never has anyone thrown a title at me.  We like that.  The neighbors are just wonderful.

What is next?

Well that is a topic that is discussed quite a bit.  We feel we have struck a chord that rings with a lot of people and we are doing better than initial pro-formas, even in a down economy.  If the right location opened we would definitely consider a full coffee/patisserie/sandwich kinda joint.  Those spaces with the right zoning and ANC support rarely come up, but we will keep our eyes open.  I’d also like to find a space to engage local produce farmers more than on Saturdays and Sundays.  That would be great, again we could go on and on.  One thing we hope to have nailed down before the end of next month is a partnership with one of the chefs here on the Hill to provide an exclusive line of easy grab and go foods.  Always open for ideas, so stay tuned.

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3 responses to “Five Questions: P&C Market”

  1. Elizabeth Festa says:

    I love their stuff but it is pricey, especially during these times when many in our community have been laid off…

  2. Barb Berry says:

    I canNOT wait to experience P & C Market during my next trip to DC. If Chase is involved, it’s all about quality…..and worth every penny!

  3. Shannon Clark says:

    Well i gotta say I got the best wine on’ the hill’ at P&C. They have a lovely shop and its just delightful. The quality of the cheeses and the selection is just unbeatable!

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