This Week's D.C. Deal Sheet

The Square, a highly anticipated 25K SF food hall coming to Downtown D.C., is set to open Tuesday. 

The new culinary venue is on the ground floor of Tishman Speyer’s 1.1M SF International Square office complex, which spans nearly a block between K and Eye streets NW near the Farragut West Metro station.

The concept comes from Union Market creator Richie Brandenburg and Rubén García, the former longtime director of José Andrés Group, in partnership with Tishman. 

“Ruben and Richie have worked tirelessly to curate a world-class culinary destination animated by an incredible collection of talent,” Tishman Speyer Senior Managing Director Paul DeMartini said in a release Friday. “Our partnership brings together both the best of D.C. and global cuisine, and we are thrilled to welcome the community in.”

Six stalls and the central 42-seat Atrium Bar are scheduled to open Tuesday, with more coming in the following months, according to the release. 

Seafood stall Cashion’s Rendezvous, tapas stand Jamón Jamón and Spanish street food stall Brasa will join Mexican street food seller Taqueria Xochi, Polenysian purveyor Yaocho, and churros and soft serve vendor Junge’s as the opening merchants. The next round this fall will bring Flora Pizzeria, Cebicheria Chalaca, Shoals Market and Casa Teresa. To start, the six stalls will be open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays, and Atrium Bar will be open 4-8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

The food hall is part of Tishman Speyer’s overhaul of the International Square buildings that launched in 2020, including a renovated gym, new lobbies and a new conference center. 

LEASES

American Real Estate Partners signed tech accelerator Unstuck Labs to Rosslyn City Center. The mobile app developer, which works with early stage startups, founders and innovation programs, will take 4K SF at the 22-story 1700 North Moore St. The 400K SF building includes a 20K SF food hall and a Gold’s Gym. A ribbon-cutting will be held on Sept. 7 with members of American Real Estate Partners, Arlington Economic Development and the Rosslyn Business Improvement District. 

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D.C. fried chicken chain Roaming Rooster is moving into 2,483 SF at Urban Edge Properties’ Woodmore Town Centre. Roaming Rooster boasts 11 other area locations, including in D.C.’s U Street corridor and Western Market, one in Tenleytown, Chantilly and Bethesda’s Pike + Rose. 

Woodmore Town Center, a 712K SF outdoor mall in Glenarden, is anchored by a Wegmans and counts a Silver Diner, Nando’s Peri Peri, Best Buy and Nike Factory Store among its retailers. In May, Urban Edge announced Sephora, Bath & Body Works, Crumbl Cookies and The Joint Chiropractic would be opening before the end of the year. KLNB’s Michael Ginsburg, Ryan Wilner and Ryan Minnehan represented Woodmore Towne Centre and Urban Edge in the deal, and RECONCRE’s Wes Neal represented Roaming Rooster.

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Border and aviation security provider Securiport is relocating from the headquarters it has occupied in Georgetown for the past two decades to Reston Station. The company signed a lease for 24.8K SF at Comstock’s 1900 Reston Metro Plaza, according to a press release issued Thursday. While the build-out occurs, the company will temporarily move to an existing space in Reston Station. 

The 365K SF, 16-story 1900 Reston Metro Plaza also houses offices for Google. Artificial intelligence company Babel Street signed a 10K SF lease at the property in May. Comstock’s Reston Station is an 80-acre development spanning the north and south sides of the Dulles Toll Road.

SALES 

Carr Properties sold a pair of high-rise apartment buildings it developed in Bethesda to AIR Communities for $220M, according to documents posted this week in Maryland deed records. Carr delivered the 28-story towers totaling 456 units three years ago, in conjunction with 23-story office building The Wilson. Denver-based AIR Communities secured a $155M acquisition loan from Walker & Dunlop that matures in September 2028, deed records show. Berkadia's Brian Crivella, Walter Coker and Bill Gribbin brokered the sale on behalf of Carr, according to a press release.

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A joint venture between three partners acquired four shopping centers in Woodbridge for $52.8M. Affiliates of Ideal Realty Group, Rock Creek Property Group and The Sigmund Cos. purchased Center Plaza, Mapledale Plaza, Forestdale Plaza and Glendale Plaza. The centers, which are 90% leased, according to a press release announcing the sales, were previously owned by an affiliate of Interstate Management Inc. They are less than 3 miles apart along Dale Boulevard and have a combined 470K SF of retail over 70 acres.

FINANCING 

Carmel Partners secured a $360M construction loan from Wells Fargo for its redevelopment of Woodley Park’s Marriott Wardman Park into two residential buildings totaling 900 units, according to deed records. The San Francisco-based developer purchased the property, which closed earlier in the pandemic, at an auction in July 2021 for $152.25M. Architect Shalom Baranes Associates is set to design the project.