The sweet smell of freshly made handcrafted artisan doughnuts is making its way to the cobblestone streets of Cady’s Alley this week. District Doughnut – the DC-based gourmet doughnut and coffee brand recognized for reinventing an American classic -- will officially open its new pop up store in Cady’s Alley today. Upon opening, initial store hours will be Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. The group has signed a lease with EastBanc, Inc. and Jamestown LP to occupy the newly renovated Alley-level retail space at 3327 Cady’s Alley, NW. Tucked inside the back Alley and just off the beaten path, the 1,200-square-foot doughnut shop will serve as District Doughnut’s second DC location. The temporary store, whose lease runs through December 2016, is an opportunity for the business to test the Georgetown market and indulge DC’s doughnut and coffee lovers. The company’s chefs begin making doughnuts at 3:00 a.m. daily, and serve them from opening through mid-afternoon until all doughnuts are consumed. District Doughnut is conveniently accessible through the Cady’s Alley breezeway off of M Street or by entering from either 33rd or 34th Streets.
District Doughnut is known for freshly made, handcrafted doughnuts that feature traditional and international-inspired tastes with a menu that includes a rotating variety of seasonally appropriate and complimentary flavors. Founders and owners Greg Menna and Christine Schaefer opened their first District Doughnut location across from the Marine Barracks in Barracks Row on Capitol Hill. After two years of serving Washingtonians in Southeast DC, District Doughnut is moving across town to open their second site in Georgetown’s Cady’s Alley. However, District Doughnut is not new to Georgetown. They have offered their delicious pastry creations on a weekly basis at Georgetown University’s student-owned coffee shop and farmer’s market. The company also presents special deliveries to the CNN Situation Room and is prominently featured at events around the city.
District Doughnut’s daily creations are designed by founder/executive pastry chef Christine Schaefer, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu. She is a master of her craft and delivers both a standing menu with a wide assortment of options including Brown Butter, Vanilla Bean Glaze, Chocolate Crème Brûlée, and Salted Dulce de Leche, as well as a rotating menu of items like Caramel Apple Streusel, Mocha Crunch or PB&J.
“Doughnuts are a timeless favorite in our nation’s history,” says Menna. “In rethinking this classic treat, we seek to bring people together through the shared experience of the most delicious product possible. Our Georgetown pop up allows District Doughnut to expand our DC presence to another historic neighborhood in DC for visitors and residents alike to enjoy. Our greatest satisfaction is in creating a delightful experience for each customer, whether we are in the kitchen or behind a desk.”
Designed by CORE, District Doughnut’s new Georgetown storefront will feature its signature doughnuts and an expanded espresso program through coffee partner, Compass Coffee. The unique space will also include an artistic flare, featuring unique canvas abstracts.
“‘Delicious’ and ‘beautiful’ might be our two favorite words. We desire to hear them spoken by each of our customers no matter where we meet them. We can’t wait to unveil the work of two lovely locals,” say designer Brittany Herr and artist Taylor Kampa.
The new District Doughnut storefront space in Cady’s Alley is part of the EastBanc/Jamestown Georgetown Renaissance collection of upscale retail properties and will add to the sophisticated collection of distinctive brands currently found in the retail corridor. The District Doughnut lease agreement reconfirms Georgetown as a location that supports local startup enterprises and entrepreneurial talent. District Doughnut’s contribution of artisan pastries and international coffees will complement the other food and beverage option in Cady’s Alley, Austrian eatery Kafe Leopold.
“Cady’s Alley is constantly introducing new designs to the corridor and is known for offering a distinctive luxury experience,” says Philippe Lanier, vice president of EastBanc. “District Doughnut presents an everlasting favorite with a sophisticated culinary twist.”
About District Doughnut
District Doughnut is a team of chefs and entrepreneurs serving specialty doughnuts to our Nation’s Capital. They handcraft fresh doughnuts daily at their Barracks Row store, featuring classic and internationally inspired flavors. Founded in and for the DC area, they strive to infuse pastries with the city's classic history and vibrant creative spirit.
About EastBanc, Inc.
EastBanc, Inc. specializes in the acquisition, redevelopment and management of commercial real estate assets. The firm’s long-term appreciation strategy emphasizes the creation of enterprise value in targeted markets through targeted deployment of investor capital. The cornerstone of EastBanc’s enterprise value strategy incorporates its unique ability to influence sizeable portions of urban streetscape with significant capital upgrades and master-planned leasing. With an emphasis on urban mixed-use investment, EastBanc’s developments include upscale retail, luxury residential, Class A and Class B office and luxury hotel property types. For more information, visit www.eastbanc.com.
About Jamestown LP
Jamestown, L.P. was established in 1983 as an investment and management company focused on income-producing real estate in the United States. Over the last 33 years, Jamestown has expanded into a national, vertically integrated real estate operator with approximately $11.1 billion of assets under management. Jamestown’s capabilities include: acquisitions, capital markets, property management, asset management, retail leasing, design, sustainability and risk management. Jamestown has headquarters in Atlanta, GA, and New York, NY and additional offices in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit www.jamestownlp.com.
About Georgetown Renaissance Portfolio
The EastBanc and Jamestown Georgetown Renaissance portfolio
features international and local home furnishing retailers as well as trendy boutiques, along with the popular Kafe Leopold restaurant nestled in the Cady’s Alley central courtyard with indoor and outdoor seating. Cady’s Alley, frequently called the Georgetown Design District, is a truly unique design-focused shopping destination within an entire city block of Washington’s historic Georgetown neighborhood. Retail showrooms feature lofted ceilings, glass and steel walls and stairs, exposed brick, and dramatic skylights. The retail corridor also includes the chic L2 Lounge, a prominent evening establishment, and a quaint pedestrian-friendly alleyway, accessible from 33rd, 34th and M Streets, NW. The portfolio also includes boutique office space and 16 luxury rental apartments. Georgetown Renaissance consists of more than 300,000 square feet across 17 properties in Georgetown and one property in Alexandria, Virginia, and it includes the area commonly referred to as Cady’s Alley. The two companies are working on an additional 30,000 square feet of new leases within the portfolio.
