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Ceviche, the restaurant that opened to fanfare in Glover Park last year, has abruptly closed its doors as of the beginning of 2009.  Apparently the concept just didn't work for the location and business was not so good.  Ceviche had replaced the Austin Grill, a mainstay in Glover Park for many years. Ceviche's owners have not given up though - they have opened a new restaurant called Kitchen which will have a southern theme in its food and decor.  Seems the food will be cheaper, the chairs are from the Salvation Army and the barstools are John Deere tractor seats.  Is this a commentary on the Glover Park clientele??  

Interestingly, Ceviche was tied to Gin & Tonic nearby (having the same owner) and apparently served as its kitchen for any food.  Since Ceviche closed, Gin & Tonic has been ordering takeout from Z-Burger and serving their food at inflated prices.  Strange.  When it opened Gin & Tonic was touted as a restaurant serving traditional American tavern food, but they apparently serve no food at all and have no kitchen, so it is really just a bar with a Z-Burger take-out option for drinkers who get the munchies and don't want to stroll next door to Z-Burger.  I wonder how that affects a restaurant's operator's license and liquor license in DC......

  

A water main broke at Manor Place and 37th st. causing 'Class 4 rapids' down the hill, tearing out some asphalt, opening a sink hole and causing low water pressure for many residents and no water for some.  The main is repaired, but as a result of the damage the road will be closed at least for a week for repairs. A secondary break occured on Observatory Pl. and a gas line broke as a result of the water main break. See article at WJLA News 7 online.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1108/572683_video.html?ref=newsstory

  

Surfside
Work is well under way at Surfside at 2444 Wisconsin.  The restaurant should be open for business in July.

Z-Burger
The popular burger joint (think Five Guys) with a location in Tenleytown plans to open a store in Glover Park in August at 2414 Wisconsin.  Expect these store to sprout in various locations in the DC metro area in the next few years.

Busara
This critically acclaimed Thai restaurant that has been in Glover Park for at least 15 years will unfortunately close pretty soon.  Rumor has it that the owner of the Mendocino Grill in Georgetown will take the space and open a new restaurant.  No further details or timeline at the moment.

Good things are happening with Glover Park's streetscape and restaurant scene!  Vacant and shoddy storefronts are finally dispappearing and being replaced by establishments that will draw neighbors as well as people from in and around the city.

  

The Grog and Tankard, a mainstay bar/music venue in Glover Park for four decades was closed last fall due to a devastating fire at the neighboring strip club JP's.  They will not re-open.  Latin Concepts, the organization that owns Ceviche nearby, has agreed to buy the space and plans to open a restaurant/bar called Gin & Tonic Tavern.  Insiders have tagged it as a "classic American tavern".  Renovation work and opening dates are yet to be determined.

  

Glover Park has three new restaurants for residents and others to enjoy:

Shanghai Tea House
2400 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Opened a few months ago in the space vacated by a photography shop below Heritage India.  Patrons I have heard from have raved about it:  bubble tea, good full selection of lunch and dinner items, all at very reasonable prices.  Traffic is light since it is new and not really advertised much (I've gotten no flyers and seen no print ads) which means you can have the place to yourself and not feel crowded.

Surfside
2444 Wisconsin Ave. NW
David Scribner (Dahlia's, Jetties) plans to open Surfside, a casual restaurant in the vacant space formerly Apollo Market.  See the full story from January 21.  Construction is well under way.  No target opening date firm yet.

BreadSoda
2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW (former My Bakery & Cafe location)
BreadSoda will open very soon.  See January 21 story for more details.  Sandwiches, salads, coffee, wine, 14 beers on tap, and pool tables.

  

JP's, a long controversial strip club in Glover Park, was gutted by fire early this morning.  The 2-alarm blaze attracted over 100 firefighters and resulted in extensive damage to the establishment as well as some damage to each of the adjacent businesses.  JP's has recently been the target once again of neighbors' concerns over having such an establishment in their neighborhood.  The recent re-application for renewal of their liquor license and the flaming gasoline attack on an employee of Good Guys - a strip club across the street - have re-energized the complaints and efforts by some residents of Glover Park to compel the Advisory Neighborhood Commission try to oust them from the neighborhood.  The ANC subsequently backed approval of their liquor license renewal last month.

Wisconsin Avenue, a major commuter artery into downtown DC, was shut down for most of the morning rushhour, creating chaos on the side streets through the neighborhoods and snarling traffic for miles.  Allegedly, a natural gas pipe inside the building broke and caught fire.

  

Bill Thomas, the owner of Bourbon restaurant (2348 Wisconsin Ave), is planning to open a new restaurant in space currently occupied by My Bakery & Cafe at 2233 Wisconsin Ave.  My Bakery has struggled to attract an evening/dinner crowd in the basement of the office building at the south end of the neighborhood, somewhat away from the foot traffic and not visible from the street level.  The meals are great, the baked goods are wonderful, but it seems that the volume of business cannot support such a high-rent area.

Bill Thomas believes he can make a deli succeed in that location.  He plans to have a beer/wine license, serve a good beer selection on tap, and set up a billiards area in the large space.  Another key to succeeding in this location in to set up an inviting outdoor space that catches the eye of pedestrians.  My Bakery efforts fell short of such an attractive outdoor area.  Mr. Thomas - like any good businessman/restauranteur considering the neighborhood - would like to expand the liquor license to allow service until 1am or 2am.  Many restaurants rely on late night liquor sales to support the business.  Finally, Glover Park does have a great market for the lunch crowd during weekdays with all the office space surrounding that location.  Targeting this market will also be a key to success.

  

The Apollo market, a deli at 2444 Wisconsin Ave. NW which closed last year, reportedly will be replaced by a new restaurant.  David Scribner, the restauranteur behind Dahlia's in Spring Valley and Jettie's in Foxhall, plans to open Surfside in Glover Park.  It is expected to be a casual and quick spot to eat, but more upscale compared to a deli, with seating for 50-60 in addition to a carry-out focus.  Surfside is expected to apply for a beer/wine license.  One more vacant property down, maybe half a dozen to go!

  

Kelly Ferguson, a Glover Park neighbor and popular dog walker and pet sitter, died suddenly at home on December 23rd.  She will be missed by many friends, colleagues and clients here in Glover Park.  Kelly was passionate about her pets and wanted to help me get more pet pictures on the Glover Park website.  Here is the text from the Washington Post:

http://www.legacy.com/WashingtonPost/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=100275673

Kelly J. Ferguson
FERGUSON KELLY J. FERGUSON On December 23, 2007, Kelly J. Ferguson, beloved daughter of Robert P. Ferguson. M.D. and Diane Ferguson (nee Strickland); dear sister of Mike Ferguson and his wife Kathy; dear aunt of Charlie Ferguson. Also survived by numerous aunts and uncles. She was born in Ithaca, NY, where her father was a student. She was raised in New York City, Long Island, New York, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Bloomfield, CT, where she was valedictorian of the Bloomfield High School Class of 1986. She was an accomplished flutist in numerous school musical groups. She attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island where she graduated summa cum laude in 1990. Besides her family, her two great loves were show business and animals. She interned on the television show, Late Night with David Letterman and moved to Los Angeles where she worked in production roles in movies and television. After 9 years in California, she returned to the east coast to be closer to her parents. She worked in law in Washington, DC, before moving to her true calling, working with dogs and cats and a variety of other animals. She formed her own animal care company, Creature Care. A Remembrance Service will be held at a later date. The family suggests donations in Kelly's name to an animal rescue org. Recycled Love, P.O.Box 6476 Baltimore, MD 21230 (RecyledLove.org). Published in The Washington Post on 12/27/2007.