Renaud Consulting helps restaurants, bars and retailers find space on 14th Street NW, from Thomas Circle and Logan Circle up through U Street to Columbia Heights. Our brokers are licensed in DC and work from our office in Tysons, Virginia. We serve Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland.
Where People Actually Go on 14th Street
14th Street is one of DC's best-known restaurant and nightlife streets.
- Le Diplomate at 14th and Q is the street's anchor: a packed French brasserie with a sidewalk patio that's hard to book on a weekend.
- Bresca, chef Ryan Ratino's Michelin-starred restaurant, is the corridor's special-occasion spot.
- Pappe serves Indian food, and Barcelona Wine Bar pours Spanish wine with tapas on a big patio.
- Katsumi (1520 14th Street NW) recently opened, serving sushi and Japanese small plates, with the sushi led by chef Masaaki "Uchi" Uchino.
- Music and theater. The Black Cat is one of DC's best-known independent rock clubs, and Studio Theatre brings theater crowds to 14th and P before and after shows.
- Up the street: The Last Straw, a sports bar from the team behind Exiles and Easy Tiger, recently opened near T Street, and farther north the Venezuelan restaurant and bakery DC Al Toque is at 3910 14th Street NW.
Sources: The Infatuation's Logan Circle guide; Destination DC on 14th Street and Logan Circle; Eater DC (Katsumi, DC Al Toque); Washingtonian (Katsumi, DC Al Toque); PoPville on The Last Straw.
What's New and Coming on 14th Street
Restaurant openings and changes of use both shape the corridor.
- Springbone Kitchen is building out 1333 14th Street.
- Joia Burger is planning a late-night takeout window at 14th and T streets.
- Not every space stays a restaurant. A Bank of America branch is planned for a restaurant space at 14th and P streets.
Sources: PoPville (Springbone Kitchen, bank at 14th and P); Eater DC on Joia Burger.
What Tenants Should Know on 14th Street
- Second-generation space can cut build-out work. Confirm what equipment stays, whether it suits your concept and what approvals or upgrades it needs before you sign.
- The liquor license is a neighborhood process. DC's Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) posts new applications, and the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission and residents can protest. Hours, live entertainment and outdoor alcohol service can need extra review or approvals. Plan for that in your schedule and your lease.
- Parts of the corridor are historic. Some properties sit within designated historic districts. Check the specific building's designation; storefront, sign and awning changes there go through DC's Historic Preservation Office.
DC Permits and Licenses
In DC, building permits and the Certificate of Occupancy come from the Department of Buildings (DOB). The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection issues the business license, and DC Health handles food-safety plan review and inspections. Liquor licenses come from ABCA. A sidewalk cafe needs a public space permit from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Questions About 14th Street Retail Space
Is 14th Street a good place to open a restaurant? It's one of DC's best-known restaurant and nightlife streets, with apartments all around and offices near Thomas Circle. Whether it works for you depends on your concept, occupancy costs, build-out needs and what the space is permitted for.
How long does a liquor license take on 14th Street? Plan for several months. Applications are posted publicly, and the Advisory Neighborhood Commission and residents can protest, which can add time and conditions on hours or music.
Can you help us find space on 14th Street? Yes. Our tenant representation team looks for space that fits your concept and budget, tours the options with you and negotiates the lease. See Tenant Representation.
Who do I call about 14th Street retail space? Call Andrew Poncher, SVP and Director of Leasing, at (571) 765-4430, or Jack Tintle, Leasing & Sales, at (571) 765-4426.
Other areas we serve: Washington, DC, Georgetown, Northern Virginia and Maryland.