Renaud Consulting helps retailers and restaurants find and lease space in Georgetown, Washington, DC. We tour the options with you, explain what each block and building will allow, and negotiate the lease. We serve Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland.
Georgetown by the Numbers: 2025 Data and 2026 Openings
The Georgetown Business Improvement District's 2025 Market Review reports:
- 57 new businesses opened in 2025 and 32 closed, for 25 net openings. More than 100 businesses opened from January 2024 through December 2025.
- 21 restaurants and food concepts opened in 2025. 14 retail and restaurant openings were slated for 2026.
- True vacancy of 8%, meaning space that's empty with no lease signed. Apparent vacancy was 12%. That adds space that's leased but still empty, such as space waiting on permits or construction, or space a paying tenant hasn't yet handed back to the landlord.
- 13.2 million domestic visits in 2025, up 3% from 2024. That's about 1.1 million a month, with an average stay of 99 minutes. Saturday is the busiest day, at 22.5% of weekly foot traffic.
- More than 550 homes in development, mostly south of M Street toward the waterfront. The 228-room citizenM hotel on Water Street opened in June 2026, according to the BID.
The BID also reports that smaller spaces of 1,000 to 4,000 SF with good frontage on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue remain highly competitive. The district has more than 5.5 million SF of retail and office space in more than 450 buildings.
Source: Georgetown BID, 2025 Market Review and Commercial Activity page.
M Street, Wisconsin Avenue or a Side Street?
- M Street NW runs through the district from 27th to 37th Street. Google opened its first DC store here, at 3235 M Street, in 2025.
- Wisconsin Avenue NW runs from M Street north to R Street. On Running opened its first stand-alone DC store at 1211 Wisconsin Avenue in 2025, and Florería Atlántico opened on Wisconsin in 2025 too.
- Cady's Alley keeps drawing high-end design and home stores; Atelier Jacobs and Ornare opened there in 2025. IKEA also moved its plan-to-order store from Pentagon City to Georgetown that year.
- South of M Street toward the waterfront is where most of the new homes are going up, and where the citizenM hotel opened in 2026.
The BID reports that spaces of 1,000 to 4,000 SF with good frontage on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue are highly competitive. On a tour, we compare frontage, the neighbors, foot traffic on each side of the street, and the condition of the building.
Old Georgetown Board Review
Georgetown is a federal historic district under the Old Georgetown Act of 1950. Signs, windows, doors, storefront replacements, rooftop or visible mechanical equipment, and exterior lighting need review by the Old Georgetown Board, which advises the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.
The Board meets monthly. The November 5, 2026 meeting had an October 15 filing deadline; check the published Board and Commission schedules for later dates. The Commission of Fine Arts acts after the Board. Build that time into your lease. We ask for enough time to get approvals before rent starts, and for the landlord's help with the application.
Sources: U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, Old Georgetown Act; Georgetown BID, Regulatory Resources.
Liquor Licenses for Georgetown Restaurants
The moratorium on restaurant liquor licenses in Georgetown expired in 2016, and there's no longer a cap on restaurant licenses (Class C/R and D/R), according to the Georgetown BID. Some limits remain inside the Georgetown Historic District: no more than six tavern licenses, and no nightclub licenses. Plan for licensing time in your opening schedule.
Our Georgetown and Nearby DC Leases
Each link goes to the deal announcement on our site. Years are the year of the announcement.
- Everlane, 1259 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Georgetown (landlord and tenant rep, 2019)
- TBC Racing, Foggy Bottom (tenant rep, 2026)
- BirdSong, 5507 Connecticut Avenue NW (tenant rep, 2025)
More DC listings and leases: Washington, DC retail space.
Questions About Georgetown Retail Space
Do you have Georgetown listings? Call us for current availability. 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.
How long does Old Georgetown Board approval take? Plan around the monthly cycle. The Board meets monthly, and the Commission of Fine Arts acts after the Board. The November 5, 2026 meeting had an October 15 filing deadline; check the published schedules for later dates. We build that time into the lease.
Is there a cap on restaurant liquor licenses in Georgetown? No. The Georgetown BID reports no cap on restaurant licenses (Class C/R and D/R) since the moratorium expired in 2016. The limits that remain apply to taverns and nightclubs.
Who do I call about Georgetown retail space? Call Andrew Poncher, SVP and Director of Leasing, at (571) 765-4430, or Jack Tintle, Leasing & Sales.
Other areas we serve: Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland.