The Ground Floor

The Ground Floor is a new column presented by DCMud, summarizing new and upcoming retail operators in and around DC. The Ground Floor will appear weekly here.

Peregrine Espresso: Having trouble with permitting? Follow Peregrine's lead and tweet about it. Four months in and one signature away from approval for construction at 1718 14th Street and the coffee shop does a back and forth on twitter with DC Regulatory Commission to grease the wheels and ends up with a building permit by the day's end. The coffee shop is scheduled to open this spring.

Hank's Oyster Bar: Though the same group who had resisted the opening of Hank's may have delayed the progress of its expansion, chef Jamie Leeds has been given the go-ahead to expand into the space next door, which will allow a bigger bar, private dining room, and doubled patio space by this summer. Leeds in the process of getting building permits and hiring a sound engineer to assess sound levels for neighbors and to make construction changes accordingly.

Graffiato: Work has begun on the demolition and buildout of Top Chef contestant Mike Isabella's new place near the Verizon Center at 705 and 707 6th Street. However, "there's no wood burning oven. There's nothing that looks remotely like a kitchen. Work is very slow," said spokesperson Jennifer Resick Williams. The space is to have an outdoor patio and a roof deck. They're shooting for a spring opening, if luck holds.

Ping Pong Dim Sum: The 6,134 square foot space at 1 Dupont Circle (between New Hampshire and P Streets) is slated to become the second D.C. location. Renovations will continue through the spring and summer, with an anticipated opening of late 2011.

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace: Though restaurateur Jeff Black faced construction hurdles at 1612 14th Street, work is underway to create the bi-level concept that will house an oyster bar and 75-seat restaurant as well as a bocce court in the upstairs bar to be named BlackJack. Opening is slated for this spring.

3201 New Mexico Avenue: The former Balducci's space will gain several new tenants, including, "some women-owned businesses and owners who also live in the neighborhood," said Peggy Pagnano, Community Relations spokesperson for American University, which owns the space. "One prospective tenant proposes a full-service restaurant specializing in gourmet wood burning oven pizza. . . Another prospect offers healthy carry-out salads, soups, baked goods, yogurt, and ice cream."

Blackbyrd Warehouse: The newest of the Hilton brothers restaurants have several projects in the works. Blackbyrd Warehouse at 2005 14th Street is still scheduled to open in spring or summer of 2011. (The Hilton restaurants include Marvin, The Gibson, Dickson Wine Bar and American Ice Company.) Ian Hilton confirmed that it may not be a coffee shop as originally slated, though the newest conception is still under wraps.

Washington DC retail development news