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Bad News from the East End of Pennsylvania Ave. SE

March 18th, 2010 by Nichole Remmert · 23 Comments · Capitol Hill

image courtesy of Google Maps

I just heard that Annie & Teddy’s Po’Boys on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue SE and Potomac Avenue SE will no longer be coming soon. There had been a lot of speculation and excitement regarding when Joe Englert, Teddy Folkman and Ann Cashion would be getting their spot underway, but it seems that parking concerns regarding the Potomac Avenue Metro (the specifics on this are not immediately clear to me) are the culprit. The space just ended up not being a viable option for a restaurant. Rumor has it, it will be turned into condos.

This is disappointing all around. I know that Mr. Englert and everyone involved in the restaurant were really looking forward to bringing po’boys to Pennsylvania Avenue!

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  • Potomac Ave Resident

    This is awful.

    Joe Englert – please don’t leave us hanging like this!

  • Mary

    How can there be parking issues if the restaurant is across the street from the Metro? There are also 3 or 4 bus lines. I don’t get it.

  • hilleast resident

    nichole, do you know if this was an ANC decision, or a decision from englert? it seems ridiculous that this happened so far into the process – they have been talking about it for months.

  • Kate

    How is this less viable than H Street? And La Lomita seems to do fine with no parking and close proximity to Potomac Ave. metro. We already missed out on having a coffee shop or restaurant on the opposite corner (that became GameStop) – don’t take this away too!

  • http://twitter.com/nicholeaileen Nichole Remmert

    I know that this wasn’t Englert’s decision. He and Teddy and Ann wanted this spot and were ready to move forward.

    The parking concerns I mentioned were apparently raised by the ANC or the neighbors, or zoning, or curb cuts. But not Metro and certainly not Joe and company. This is the part I’m unclear on, and would prefer not to speculate about b/c I just don’t know. My understanding is that the restaurant build out would have eliminated some parking and that was of concern to… someone. But that’s the part I just don’t know. A compromise was unable to be reached and so the restaurant is a no go.

    I’m sorry I don’t know more, guys. This kind of thing seems to always be especially cryptic, but since I got firm confirmation that the restaurant isn’t happening (if not the best explanation of “why”) I wanted to let everyone know b/c I know many of us were excited for this place.

  • http://www.thehillishome.com Kate McFadden

    Nichole – do you have any word about Dulce’s plans and/or schedule to reopen? My mouth waters and I get sad every time I walk by.

  • hilleast resident

    nichole,
    thanks so much for the additional information. is there someone we can complain too – send a letter, make a call, etc? i am getting really tired of the irrational complaints about commercialism in our area and am really starting to worry about the viability of the east end of penn ave. i think ANC, or whoever caused this, needs to hear from the residents that this type of decision making is unfair and, to be quite honest, completely ridiculous.

  • Another Potomac Person

    Nichole,

    The residents were not concerned about parking and the ANC asked nothing more from Englert than from any other business on the Hill. In fact Mr. Englert has had a green light from the ANC since last fall. Mr. Englert has been cagey at best about why this project is off, but please don’t blame the neighbors or the ANC with nothing more than speculation.

  • http://twitter.com/nicholeaileen Nichole Remmert

    Another Potomac Person, that’s what I’m saying – that I don’t know what the issues were, those are some of the rumors I’ve heard (along with the others I mentioned) which is why I said I didn’t want to speculate. I don’t know what the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the deal were, which I think I was pretty clear about both in my post and my subsequent comment. I’m not accusing anyone of anything b/c I just don’t know.

  • Potomac Ave Resident

    Can we get a comment from Joe Englert (or someone else involved)? Does he monitor this blog as closely as he does Frozen Tropics? I think we were all really excited for this development and this is a real downer. The last thing we need is more condos (like that won’t cause a parking issue?) but we definitely need more dining options on this end of the Hill.

  • Laura

    that’s a bummer. it seems odd that the spot was deemed “not a viable option for a restaurant”. it is centrally located and therefore has a good amount of foot traffic and can be seen from pennsylvania avenue, seems to be a pretty big indoor space, and has a great outside patio area for dining. it would literally have only one dinner competitor (la lomita) in almost a mile radius, which is entirely different cuisine anyway. there is plenty of parking in our area, but that seems irrelevant as its almost on top of the metro exit and multiple bus lines. and we are an urban location, not a strip mall in virginia where parking is more of a necessity. it kinda makes no sense.

    i’m really just trying to convince myself at this point clearly, hoping someone else will open a restaurant there…sigh.

  • http://twitter.com/nicholeaileen Nichole Remmert

    To be clear, as there seems to be some confusion – which is totally understandable. The parking issues that I’ve heard that may have played a role in why this project isn’t moving forward, were not from the restaurant proprietors (Englert et al). There were concerns about the build out taking parking away from the neighborhood. Obviously the restaurant doesn’t need a parking lot to be successful in that spot, and that was never an issue from Englert and company.

    I know you guys want more answers, but I just don’t have them. Maybe Mr. Englert will read this and respond the way he does on Frozen Tropics. Otherwise, everything else at this point is just speculation.

  • http://twitter.com/nicholeaileen Nichole Remmert

    The one thing I can add though is that this project, when it was still slated to happen, was going to be second to Vendetta, another Englert/Folkman venture down on H Street, so while to us it seemed like it was taking a really long time, in reality, there was always another project that was going to come first before we were going to see Annie & Teddy’s.

  • Joe Englert

    1) Folks, due to condo regulations, we had to make the restaurant–commercial section smaller than we planned.
    2) Due to monetaary constraints (only so much capital around) this would be hard for us to do for a couple of years at least
    3) Also, we have a shortage of talent. There is only so many bodies we can pluck into management and chefs and cooks positions as well.
    4) We still are open to the Po Boy option and are interviewing people daily who might be able to pull the concept off.
    5) There are other groups interested in the space as well. They are good, creative types with awesome ideas. If we don’t do the space ourselves, a well-run non-chain type of place would eventually go there.
    6) Because of the condos and because of our belief in the neighborhood, we would only put a quality place in business there if we don’t do it ourselves.
    7) There is only so much time and money and talent to go around. We will do something there soon, but not overnight

  • Joe Englert

    As said before, something will come sooner than you think. It just might have different owners than planned but just as good as we are

  • Potomac + Penn

    Joe,

    Thanks for your response; as a neighbor of the property (two doors down) we have been waiting excitedly for the project to begin. This change/delay is quite disappointing- the concept sounded amazing, & we were really looking forward to it. I understand the reasoning behind it, & I hope you are able to work something else into the spot soon! (Please let it remain an eatery/bar of some kind – the GameStop coming in across the street instead of a cafe/eatery was upsetting enough!)

    It would also be greatly appreciated if you keep us in the loop through this or another local blog. Youve still got this whole neighborhood excited – not only to see the end of the store you are replacing, but more importantly to have another dining/bar experience on this end of Pennsylvania, especially one of the caliber of your other establishments.

    Cheers

  • NOLA Native

    As a NOLA native living on the Hill I am very disappointed to hear that this restaurant was not going forward. I was really hoping for some authentic poboys right down the street from me. Thanks for your detailed response Joe and good luck in your endeavors. I hope that we get another dining spot in that location; since another Condo is definitely not needed.

  • Potomac Ave Resident

    Joe Englert — to echo “Potomac + Penn” — thanks for checking in, and please keep us updated.

    As someone who enjoys your H st spots, we were really looking forward to this. Trusty’s is great for what it is, but we really need something more substantial.

  • 14XX K Street, SE

    Mr. Englert,

    Just one thing to say regarding the installation of a restaurant in this well-trafficked location. You, or whom-ever decides to do this, will NOT be sorry! Half the people wandering up and down the street at Barracks Row looking for dining options are from this neighborhood! This could be the spur of a sorely-needed dining “strip” along Penn Ave. between 14th & 15th Streets! It could become H Street all over again! If you build it, WE will come.

    Thanks,
    Scott

  • Potomac + Penn

    I know its been a while, but has there been any progress on this front? The building has been sitting “half-torn-up” for almost 3 months now – with only a small amount of visible progress on the living side (some new windows, some just covered with plywood, the grass & trash in front is now about 2′ high!) & the only progress in front was to rip trim down & expose the ratty-looking structure & insulation before work was stopped. I know it sometimes takes a while to get the wheels turning so this is [somewhat] understandable; I’d just like to know if anything is happening behind the scenes?
    Cheers

  • Potomac + Penn

    Small update:
    Within 2 days of my last posting the grass was mowed & trash removed, + within 2 weeks the building has been repainted + the old coke machines gone. There even appears to be some improvements on the retail side. I don’t know if Joe read my last post or if the lawn/trash was just coincidence, but it is appreciated. We are still excited for whatever may be coming into that corner space + awaiting any news on that front.
    Cheers

  • Potomac ave resident

    I see signs up in the window for Annie & Teddy’s but the menu reflects a different concept from the poboy place but still looks promising. Any new details on the ETA?

    Thanks!

  • Lindsay

    Looks like we are getting condos and a sandwich shop? Anyone have more info?