See this article from the February 2010 issue of DC North. Thanks to Scott Roberts listserv.
Big Hopes for a Bloomingdale Bar
The Prince of Petworth blog had a big scoop for Bloomingdale residents in late January: the neighborhood is slated to be getting a bar … at some point.
Diton Pashaj, who owns Vinoteca on U Street, is hoping to open Rustik Neighborhood Tavern in Bloomingdale’s little business district on First Street just south of Rhode Island Avenue. Pashaj is saying the place will offer everything a neighborhood pub needs – outdoor seating, brunch, a jukebox, you name it. Commenters on the PoP blog post were so excited, one of them already offered to be Norm (a la “Cheers,” the TV show).
But there’s a little hitch – that “at some point” time frame. Things don’t necessarily move fast in the neighborhood. Residents have already been holding their collective breath for months now, awaiting the opening – or the end of construction, or signs of life, even – of Baraki Pizza at the corner of First and T streets. Owner Aleks Duni finally triumphed over roadblocks to getting the necessary permits, but now he says no one’s lending: “We’ll move forward as soon as Obama and the banks decide to allow me to get a loan.”
Read the rest of the article here.
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An added note from Scott:
I contacted North Capitol Main Street’s President, Pat Mitchell, for comments. Pat remarks, “John’s right, about one thing: Trying to bring deals to the market in a climate like this is difficult, at best. The banks are not in a lending mood and, unfortunately, the amount of capital that’s available to small businesses under Main Street Programs like NCMS is micro-lending, usually less than $30k, and not nearly enough to get the doors open, when you’re talking about bringing on a new business. Because of this, our approach during this economy is to focus on providing support services – technical support to existing businesses, Clean & Safe Sentinels and Store Front Improvement Projects – that stabilize business corridors and improve the business environment for entrepreneurs who have the funds to open their business without bank assistance. It’s a tough job and a tougher economy.”
Bates Area Civic Association 