The former Wonder Bread Factory at 641 S Street NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Mathew Harkins. Email him at mharkins[AT]borderstan.com.

With new restaurants opening regularly, a beautifully renovated Howard Theater, new construction near the metro and the eventual completion of CityMarket, the Shaw neighborhood has been doing well for itself recently. Amidst all this positive change and development though is one place that people keep looking forward to but keeps being set back: the Wonder Bread Factory at 641 S Street NW.

Rescheduled Renovations

Originally scheduled for completion in January 2013, Douglas Development has pushed back the completion date for the renovation of this building. That date was pushed back to March 2013 but that has come and gone without the completion of the project. Douglas Development’s website now calls for late Spring 2013 and over at Elevation DC, Lisa Spinelli recently quoted Douglas Development’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Thomas Schneck, as saying, “Renovations will be finished in June.”

Fleeting Tenants

Back in June 2012, the Washington Business Journal and others reported that WorkSpaces LLC had signed on as the first tenants for the soon to be renovated Wonder Bread Factory. The lease had been for 20,817 square feet — the entire third floor.

Things seemed stable in this lease agreement until the end of this past February, when The Washington Post reported that WorkSpaces was closing offices and backing out of their plans to lease space at the Wonder Bread Factory. Since then, WorkSpaces has filed for bankruptcy. While there is plenty of space for other office tenants, and while the ground and basement levels are intended for retail, restaurant and/or microbrewery space, nobody else has yet to sign on for the Wonder Bread Factory.

Great Potential

What makes these setbacks so unfortunate is that a fully renovated Wonder Bread Factory should be great for the neighborhood and it’s unfortunate that it hasn’t arrived already. Closed since the 1980s, this space, located just a short walk from the Shaw metro stop, will make for a great focal point in an area still gradually improving.

While there is no residential space in the building, the office, retail and restaurant space will help to bring new energy and life to the neighborhood. Stay tuned – we’ll be keeping our eyes out for any news on this location.

Wonder Bread Factory before renovations. (Luis Gomez Photos)

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Saturday, April 20: Brooks Dashing Bicycle Show at BicycleSPACE. (Courtesy BicycleSPACE)

On Saturday April 20, The Brooks Dashing Bicycle Show will arrive at Bicycle SPACE. Some of the most stylish and well made products, saddles, bags, clothing, and accessories for your bike will be showcased at the shop.

To celebrate the occasion BicycleSPACE has prepared a grand celebration.

From 6 to 9 pm join the party at 1019 7th Street NW. Dress accordingly to the occasion. You will be greeted with  flowing libations courtesy of Hendrick’s Gin, music from Sligo Creek Stompers, and ample opportunity to rub elbows with prominent author, BikeSnobNYC as he unveils his new book, Bike Snob Abroad.

The Details

• What: The Brooks Dashing Bicycle Show.
• When: Saturday, April 20 from 6 pm to 9 pm.
• Where: BicycleSPACE, 1019 7th Street NW.

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From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.

Crime news from Dupont-Logan-U Street.

A victim was shot in the 1500 block of 7th Street NW just before 5:00pm Wednesday evening, according a tweet from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

NBC 4’s Jackie Benson tweeted that the shooting appeared to take place in front of Bread for the City, which is located at 1525 7th Street NW.

Police Service Area 307 Lieutenant Jeffery Carroll said the victim was transported to the hospital for treatment.

No information was immediately available about the suspect. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact MPD at 202-727-9099.

The DC Police Alert: “UNIT 3081 CONFIRMED A Shooting at 7th & Q St. NW. No lookout given. DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #I20130068728, Sent on: 02/13 17:04″

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Another restaurant is coming to 7th Street NW in Shaw. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

A Spanish restaurant from Derek Brown will join the list of new spots hitting 7th Street NW in Shaw. The Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema reports that the new spot, called Mockingbird Hill, will mimic some of Brown’s experiences in southern Spain.

The 1,110 square-foot location at 1843 7th Street NW will seat 40 and will serve-up small bites, such as ham, olives and more than 50 varieties of sherries, the article details. Brown also operates the Passenger, Columbia Room and Hogo, just a few blocks down 7th Street.

Other spots that just opened – or are coming soon – in the Shaw neighborhood include:

• A&D at 1314 9th Street NW, which has an impressive cocktail list.
• Table at 903 N Street, which focuses on simple, European fare.
• Anna and Dan Kahoe’s new Blagden Alley supper club.
• O Street Market, which is bringing residential, hotel, retail and restaurant space to the 1400 block of 7th Street NW.

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Crime news from Dupont-Logan-U Street.

DC Police reported a gun robbery around 9 pm near the Washington Convention Center at 7th and L Streets NW, on Wednesday, January 16. The lookout is for one man armed with a handgun, according to the DC Police Twitter feed and Police Alert.

From DC Police Alerts: “CONFIRMED A Robbery Gun_2055 hours_7th and L st. NW_LOF B/M, 6’0″, black jacket, black hat, dark complexion, armed with a handgun Last seen towards M St. NW. DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT I20130024045, Sent on: 01/16 21:06″

From the DC Police Twitter feed: “Robbery Gun_2055 hours_7th and L St. NW_LOF B/M, 6’0″, black jacket, black hat, dark complexion, armed with a handgun. /8747″

Police Alerts, More Information

You can sign up for alerts through Alert DC and get alerts  by e-mail, cell phone, pager or wireless PDA. When signing up, you can select alerts on crime, transportation, utility outages/issues, government closings, breaking news, DC-sponsored events and Amber Alerts. You can follow the DC Police on Twitter @DCPoliceDept.

You can get more information about crime in the Borderstan area through the MPD listservs for the Second and Third Districts on Yahoo! Groups.

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Crime news from Dupont-Logan-U Street.

DC Police reported an armed robbery around 9 pm, Monday, December 31, on the 1900 block of 7th Street NW, just south of Florida Avenue NW. Police reports say the man was wearing a ski mask.

From DC Police Alerts: “3061 CONFIRMED A Robbery while Armed in the 1900 blk of 7th St., NW LOF;B/M, 19-20, 6’1″, 185-190lbs, drk complexion, wearing a ski mask, drk jkt & pants DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #I20120652946, Sent on: 12/31 21:01″

From the DC Police Twitter feed: ”Robbery w/ Armed in the 1900 blk of 7th St., NW LOF;B/M, 19-20, 6’1″, 185-190lbs, drk complexion, wearing a ski mask, drk jkt & pants/ 5760″

Police Alerts, More Information

You can sign up for alerts through Alert DC and get alerts  by e-mail, cell phone, pager or wireless PDA. When signing up, you can select alerts on crime, transportation, utility outages/issues, government closings, breaking news, DC-sponsored events and Amber Alerts. You can follow the DC Police on Twitter @DCPoliceDept.

You can get more information about crime in the Borderstan area through the MPD listservs for the Second and Third Districts on Yahoo! Groups.

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From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.

Police are looking for a suspect in the robbery of the TD Bank branch at 7th and I Streets NW on Saturday. (Courtesy Metropolitan Police Department)

The Metropolitan Police Department is searching for a suspect who robbed a TD Bank location at 7th and I Streets NW on Saturday, November 17. The suspect entered the bank just after 1 pm and gave a note to the teller demanding money.

The suspect fled the scene with an undetermined amount of cash. He is described as a black male 40- to 50-years old with a dark complexion and dark hair. He is 5’9” to 5’11” and weighs about 160 pounds. Police released three photos from surveillance footage in the bank.

This is the second TD Bank branch to be robbed in the Borderstan area in recent months. The TD Bank on Connecticut Avenue NW just north of Dupont Circle was robbed on October 5 (TD Bank Robbery North of Dupont Circle on Connecticut), although the suspect descriptions in the two cases do not match (FBI Releases Wanted Poster in Friday’s Bank Robbery).

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call MPD at 202-727-9099 or text information to 50411. A reward of up to $10,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

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Jefferson at Market Place on 7th Street NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com. 

Development along 7th Street NW, just east of Logan Circle is bringing major changes to the area. And among new office spaces, the highly-anticipated O Street Market and other local restaurants and shops will be a new apartment building.

Mixed-use development, called Jefferson at Market Place, is planned for the corner of 7th and P Streets NW. The project will include 281 luxury apartments, 230 below-grade parking spaces and 13,400 square feet of retail space. Construction began in August, 2012 and is planned to be compete in March, 2014.

Jefferson at Market Place will feature modern amenities, including a boutique-style lobby with a 24-hour concierge, a state-of-the-art fitness center, resident business center, a community lounge with bar and gaming areas, a landscaped roof deck and a large pool deck on the 8th floor roof.

Jefferson at Market Place is located less than three blocks north of the Washington Convention Center Metro Station and two blocks south of the Shaw-Howard Metro Station. The project will be located adjacent to the future City Market at O.

For more information on the development, stay tuned to Borderstan.com.

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Crime news from Dupont-Logan-U Street.

DC Police reported last evening that a gun robbery occurred around 9 pm on the 1300 block of 7th Street NW, which is between N and O Streets and close to the Washington Convention Center.

From last evening’s Police Alert: ”Police Alert- Robbery Gun. UNIT FS3082 CONFIRMED A Robbery in the 1300blk of 7th St NW. LOF 2 unknown males armed with handguns. DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #I20120514769. Sent on: 10/11 21:21.”

You can sign up for alerts through Alert DC and get alerts  by e-mail, cell phone, pager or wireless PDA. When signing up, you can select alerts on crime, transportation, utility outages/issues, government closings, breaking news, DC-sponsored events and Amber Alerts.

You can get more information about crime in the Borderstan area through the MPD listservs for the Second and Third Districts on Yahoo! Groups.

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The DC Police reported that a gun robbery occurred at 5:40 pm this evening,  July 26.

From the DC Police Alert: “Robbery Gun. Vice 18 CONFIRMED a Robbery Gun_1740hrs_700 T St. NW_2B/M’s, #1 white shirt and blue jeans long dreadlocks, #2 white shirt and blue jeans short dreadlocks  DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #”

There was also a gun robbery on the 1600 block of 7th Street on Tuesday (see Early Morning Gun Robbery, 1600 Block of 7th Street NW).

You can sign up for alerts through Alert DC and get alerts  by e-mail, cell phone, pager or wireless PDA. When signing up, you can select alerts on crime, transportation, utility outages/issues, government closings, breaking news, DC-sponsored events and Amber Alerts.

You can get more information about crime in the Borderstan area through the MPD listservs for the Second and Third Districts on Yahoo! Groups.

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