Georgetown closed stores

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't understand how the Georgetown Mall has stayed empty for so many years. It was technically prime real estate back in the day. Now what are they going to do with all that empty space right in the middle of M Street?

I think they’ve expanded the parking into the bottom levels of the old mall. With the expansion of some of the stores on front and back, as well as the bowling place, I’m not sure how much vacant space is left inside.

For those of you not familiar, it was a big space that was accessed primarily from an entrance near Clyde’s. It went down 3-4 levels with a big atrium. Some stores on street level had entrances from inside and outside (like Clyde’s and JCrew). There was a food court on the bottom level. The mix of stores changed over the years but it was quite a shopping destination when it opened. Stores I loved included Britches, Liberty of London, Talbots (in its heyday), pappagallo, and so many more.

I worked at Britches of Georgetown. No one even remembers it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't understand how the Georgetown Mall has stayed empty for so many years. It was technically prime real estate back in the day. Now what are they going to do with all that empty space right in the middle of M Street?

I think they’ve expanded the parking into the bottom levels of the old mall. With the expansion of some of the stores on front and back, as well as the bowling place, I’m not sure how much vacant space is left inside.

For those of you not familiar, it was a big space that was accessed primarily from an entrance near Clyde’s. It went down 3-4 levels with a big atrium. Some stores on street level had entrances from inside and outside (like Clyde’s and JCrew). There was a food court on the bottom level. The mix of stores changed over the years but it was quite a shopping destination when it opened. Stores I loved included Britches, Liberty of London, Talbots (in its heyday), pappagallo, and so many more.

I worked at Britches of Georgetown. No one even remembers it now.

BS. I remember it, it was where we got our 1980s rugby shirts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This made me nostalgic. i lived in Georgetown as a young 20 something person in the 1990s. I remember shopping at the Georgetown mall at Xmas, and it would be packed, with a quartet playing carols in the center. I saw Bill Clinton shopping there one year.

I remember taking my son there when he was little (early 2000s) and I remember wondering what happened -- why it was so empty. And then of course it closed.

I have all these memories of restaurants that no longer exist but were part of my young adulthood -- Georgetown Cafe (many late nights there), Hamburger Heaven, Something that was like White Castle (can't remember its name), Au pied de cochon.

And there was a great club there Champions.

Sigh.

White Castle was probably Little Tavern; on M west of Wisconsin.

Georgetown mall is still there. I think? It’s a huge hulking brick thing on M St. I last went there for bowling around the back side. Some $$$ place. Lucky strike? I remember ogling FAO Schwartz in there as a kid. Victoria’s Secret as a teen. And then there used to be a DMV there after the mall failed FOR A WHILE.

I have been to Georgetown this year to go to the movies, Lush, Sephora, and the Apple Store.

I used to go to Georgetown specifically for those three stores. Except now the only shop exclusive to Gtown is Lush.

Lush, which makes stinky, migraine-inducing junk, is in every mall in the area (and freestanding stores too). It’s not exclusive to Georgetown

Yep, you can buy that sludge all over the place. But I don’t recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't understand how the Georgetown Mall has stayed empty for so many years. It was technically prime real estate back in the day. Now what are they going to do with all that empty space right in the middle of M Street?

I think they’ve expanded the parking into the bottom levels of the old mall. With the expansion of some of the stores on front and back, as well as the bowling place, I’m not sure how much vacant space is left inside.

For those of you not familiar, it was a big space that was accessed primarily from an entrance near Clyde’s. It went down 3-4 levels with a big atrium. Some stores on street level had entrances from inside and outside (like Clyde’s and JCrew). There was a food court on the bottom level. The mix of stores changed over the years but it was quite a shopping destination when it opened. Stores I loved included Britches, Liberty of London, Talbots (in its heyday), pappagallo, and so many more.

I worked at Britches of Georgetown. No one even remembers it now.

BS. I remember it, it was where we got our 1980s rugby shirts!

I remember Britches. I also remember a bunch of stores in that mall, back when mall shopping was fun... here are some of the top of my head:

Taxco
Caswell Massey
Crabtree and Evelyn
a Hello Kitty store... full of Hello Kitty stuff!
a bulk candy store
White House Black Market
Express
some good shoe stores
a record store... Waxie Maxie's?

I liked that mall. There was also a Benihana in there.

[Anonymous]

So few bars and restaurants left. So very sad. What an odd, EuroSlimey place it has become.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember Britches. I also remember a bunch of stores in that mall, back when mall shopping was fun... here are some of the top of my head:

Taxco
Caswell Massey
Crabtree and Evelyn
a Hello Kitty store... full of Hello Kitty stuff!
a bulk candy store
White House Black Market
Express
some good shoe stores
a record store... Waxie Maxie's?

I liked that mall. There was also a Benihana in there.

Oh yeah! Benihana.
I used to go for the Victoria's Secret. I remember also they had a gift wrap place right in the middle. You could drop off your whole pile and they would wrap. Not sure why that was exciting to me but it was. They also had a Conrans that was connected to the mall -- you had to walk through some exterior exit -- and they had great home furnishings.

I just remember it being so fancy. It was great.

[Anonymous]

This thread is bringing back so many memories of Georgetown in the 80s and 90s. It's always been a bit of mixed bag of upscale, funky, and more seedy places. But I have to agree it's gone downhill overall in the past fifteen years or so. Georgetown Park was a genuinely lovely and fun place to shop in the 80s. I miss it.

To the PP that worked at Britches: I remember it well! Anyone else remember Barbara West and Peppers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't understand how the Georgetown Mall has stayed empty for so many years. It was technically prime real estate back in the day. Now what are they going to do with all that empty space right in the middle of M Street?

I think they’ve expanded the parking into the bottom levels of the old mall. With the expansion of some of the stores on front and back, as well as the bowling place, I’m not sure how much vacant space is left inside.

For those of you not familiar, it was a big space that was accessed primarily from an entrance near Clyde’s. It went down 3-4 levels with a big atrium. Some stores on street level had entrances from inside and outside (like Clyde’s and JCrew). There was a food court on the bottom level. The mix of stores changed over the years but it was quite a shopping destination when it opened. Stores I loved included Britches, Liberty of London, Talbots (in its heyday), pappagallo, and so many more.

I worked at Britches of Georgetown. No one even remembers it now.

BS. I remember it, it was where we got our 1980s rugby shirts!

I got the cutest pink madras backpack at Britches. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't understand how the Georgetown Mall has stayed empty for so many years. It was technically prime real estate back in the day. Now what are they going to do with all that empty space right in the middle of M Street?

I think they’ve expanded the parking into the bottom levels of the old mall. With the expansion of some of the stores on front and back, as well as the bowling place, I’m not sure how much vacant space is left inside.

For those of you not familiar, it was a big space that was accessed primarily from an entrance near Clyde’s. It went down 3-4 levels with a big atrium. Some stores on street level had entrances from inside and outside (like Clyde’s and JCrew). There was a food court on the bottom level. The mix of stores changed over the years but it was quite a shopping destination when it opened. Stores I loved included Britches, Liberty of London, Talbots (in its heyday), pappagallo, and so many more.

I worked at Britches of Georgetown. No one even remembers it now.

BS. I remember it, it was where we got our 1980s rugby shirts!

Yes- I miss it!! Private school girls were wearing those in the 80’s. I wish I still had them my boy could have worn those - they never wear out and they were so cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember Britches. I also remember a bunch of stores in that mall, back when mall shopping was fun... here are some of the top of my head:

Taxco
Caswell Massey
Crabtree and Evelyn
a Hello Kitty store... full of Hello Kitty stuff!
a bulk candy store
White House Black Market
Express
some good shoe stores
a record store... Waxie Maxie's?

I liked that mall. There was also a Benihana in there.

Oh yeah! Benihana.
I used to go for the Victoria's Secret. I remember also they had a gift wrap place right in the middle. You could drop off your whole pile and they would wrap. Not sure why that was exciting to me but it was. They also had a Conrans that was connected to the mall -- you had to walk through some exterior exit -- and they had great home furnishings.

I just remember it being so fancy. It was great.

The Conran’s was awesome, if short lived. And I recall it was a knockoff Benihana. I think it began with an M.

[Anonymous]

Casual Corner!
Think there was a Coffee Beanery too.
The atrium had that dark-green cast-iron cafe seating going on with the B/W tile flooring.
There was a good luggage shop too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember Britches. I also remember a bunch of stores in that mall, back when mall shopping was fun... here are some of the top of my head:

Taxco
Caswell Massey
Crabtree and Evelyn
a Hello Kitty store... full of Hello Kitty stuff!
a bulk candy store
White House Black Market
Express
some good shoe stores
a record store... Waxie Maxie's?

I liked that mall. There was also a Benihana in there.

Oh yeah! Benihana.
I used to go for the Victoria's Secret. I remember also they had a gift wrap place right in the middle. You could drop off your whole pile and they would wrap. Not sure why that was exciting to me but it was. They also had a Conrans that was connected to the mall -- you had to walk through some exterior exit -- and they had great home furnishings.

I just remember it being so fancy. It was great.

+1
So many memories from Georgetown Park. We used to go to the Godiva store or mrs Fields after ccd at holy trinity, I got my first real furniture as a teenager at contam’s (remember how it had an awkward entrance & was up at the top, next to the canal?), homecoming dinner at Benihana, etc.

[Anonymous]

I used to love going to Gtown, just to walk and shop. Now, not so much.

[Anonymous]

I've lived here for 10 years and I feel M St has lost some of it shine but I actually like it better now, it feels a bit more laid back. Georgetown overall has only improved with the waterfront expansion, the library restoration, and a few great new restaurants around Wisconsin as well as south of M. Now if only we could have the canal back (when is that supposed to be done?) and the Whole Foods reopened. The downside of Georgetown for me is the housing stock: too many homes are tiny and cramped and cannot be made more open or light-filled for historic preservation reasons.

[Anonymous]

I’m sure it’s been mentioned, but who remembers Smash?? Hard to believe Georgetown was a bastion of the DC punk scene.