Washington, D.C., April 14, 2011 – The Perfect Pita is now open in NoMa, bringing delicious hummus and a new frozen yogurt concept to this rapidly growing neighborhood. The Perfect Pita opened April 4 at 1300 Second Street, NE, across from the Courtyard by Marriott and the New York Avenue Metro Station, and adjacent to the headquarters of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The Perfect Pita offers breakfast and lunch, and frozen yogurt with toppings for that afternoon sweets craving. The Perfect Pita features a Mediterranean-American menu, offering diverse options such as the BLT, falafel, chicken hummus veggie pita, the popular gyro, and the spinach melt. The restaurant focuses on baked items – nothing is fried – and makes everything fresh daily in its Springfield, Virginia, kitchen. The restaurant’s popular pita breads are sold at Whole Foods and Dean & Deluca; they plan to start selling at Wegmans soon.
Erika Dodd of The Perfect Pita says that their 9” personal pizzas and salads have been popular items so far with the NoMa crowd. “We also have a Mediterranean sampler that’s all vegetarian, that is doing great down there,” Dodd said. “People are very conscientious about what they’re eating,” so vegetarian options including falafel are big sellers.
The privately owned restaurant chain was founded more than 20 years ago by Atilla Kan, and remains a family business. The Perfect Pita will open its largest and 12th location in NoMa; they plan to expand further in 2011, with four additional locations.
“NoMa remains a top choice for expanding retailers in the DC market, and we are proud to be attracting national chains and family owned businesses,” said Liz Price, President of the NoMa Business Improvement District. “Two chef-driven, locally owned restaurants open in NoMa in the coming months, which only underscores our growing population and retail explosion over the last year.”
Todd Gray’s Watershed, featuring seafood from the Eastern seaboard, opens in April with the Hilton Garden Inn, NoMa’s second hotel. Chef Gillian Clark of Colorado Kitchen fame, will open Kitchen on K Street in the Loree Grand in early summer.
Additional retail growth includes:
- DC’s largest (50,000 SF) Harris Teeter opened in December, marking First and M Streets, NE, as the new heart of the neighborhood.
- Seven other retailers opened in 2010, including: Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Georgetown Valet, TD Bank, 7-11, Café Phillips, Tynan Coffee & Tea, and Constitution Café.
- CVS opened in January at 1200 First Street, NE.
- Roti Mediterranean Grill opened its second Washington, DC, location in February at Constitution Square, offering tasty and healthful Mediterranean cuisine, known for its abundant use of olive oil, vegetables and legumes.
- Additional restaurants around Second and N Streets, NE, include Au Bon Pain and Five Guys Burgers & Fries.
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood north of Union Station and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In the last five years, private developers have invested more than $3 billion in the 35-block area covered by the NoMa BID, and have plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space. In 2010, more than 6,000 people moved into NoMa to live or work; and eight new retailers opened for business. NoMa has 15 modes of transportation, including two Red Line Metro stops, and the best biking facilities in DC, with the only East Coast Bikestation, the 8-mile Met Branch Trail, and six Capital Bikeshare stations. For more information about NoMa, visit nomabid.wpengine.com and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter.
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