Washington, D.C., January 17, 2008… Two new restaurants are coming to the rapidly emerging NoMa (north of Massachusetts Avenue) neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli and Sister’s Pizza & Mussels are scheduled to open in April of 2008, following the opening of Pound Coffee, just outside the New York Avenue Metro station at 2nd and N Street, N.E.Capital Retail Group and LeDroit Park Development Company are leasing the 8,000 square foot retail building constructed by the U.S. General Services Administration adjacent to the new headquarters of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The retail building, featuring outdoor seating and direct access to Metro, will be open to the public.

Both Heidi’s and Sister’s were founded in Denver, Colorado by Steve Naples, who grew up in northern New Jersey and often enjoyed Brooklyn’s pizza and deli fare, as well as the mussels dishes offered by a Sicilian pizzeria in his neighborhood. Both Heidi’s and Sister’s became highly popular in Denver, and are now being franchised all over the country.

The NoMa franchisee is a group headed by local resident Ian Swain, who has leased a total of 2,940 square feet for the two eateries with seating for at least 20. The NoMa Heidi’s will be the second store in Washington, D.C.; Sister’s will be the very first outlet of this growing national chain in the D.C. metropolitan area. Both stores will be under the day-to-day management of, a culinary operations manager Bernard Wrenn.

Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli will feature such deli favorites as pastrami, corned beef, lox, Reubens, cheesesteaks, roast beef, turkey, BLT, and more. All sandwiches are served on fresh-baked breads made on premises including ciabatta, rye, pumpernickel, Italian, and sourdough. Heidi’s also serves fresh salads, wraps, soups, healthy smoothies, breakfast selections, cheesecake, and other treats. Its motto is: “If you think you can find a better deli, just fuggedaboudit!”

Sister’s Pizza & Mussels, named after the founder’s two pizza-loving daughters, specializes in New Jersey-style pizza, calzones, jumbo wings, steamed mussels with various sauces, steamed clams, fried calamari, and even a pizza with mussels and other seafood toppings.

“We are proud that we have been able to offer the first ATF retail leases to local entrepreneurs who are offering unique restaurant concepts,” said Carla Merritt of LeDroit Park Development Company. Added Robert Tack of Capital Retail Group: “With Pound Coffee, Heidi’s, and Sister’s opening this spring, NoMa will have a nice variety of restaurant options with high-quality food at fair prices.”

“We are excited about the new retail amenities coming to NoMa that will serve thousands of office workers as well as nearby residents,” said Elizabeth Price, President of the NoMa Business Improvement District (BID). “With 50,000 square feet of retail space under construction and another 140,000 square feet starting this year, there will be many more retail announcements in the coming months.”

NoMa is an exciting emerging mixed-use neighborhood north of the U.S. Capitol and Union Station in Washington DC. Private developers are investing more than $1 billion this year alone with plans to develop over 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space in the area covered by the NoMa BID over the next 10 years. For more information about the BID, including an interactive development map, see the BID Website at http://nomabid.wpengine.com.