The narrow brick building at 2140 F St., NW has been in Foggy Bottom for more than a century. But it recently got quite a facelift—inside and out—and promises to satisfy every palate in the community.
Dubbed “FoBoGro,” the new grocery and sandwich stop offers familiar staples, gourmet extras, supplies and a full-service sandwich shop in the basement. And if the façade and name seem familiar, that’s because there’s been a store called Foggy Bottom Grocery on the site since 1941.
While enrolled at GW, Kris Hart and Devlin Keating, B.B.A.’06, used to shop at the 69-year-old store and got to know its owner, Meseret Bekele. Mr. Hart says purchasing the store from her was “the coolest opportunity I’ve ever had.”
“Meseret became one of my good friends, and when I bought the store from her I became really excited because in my mind it was the “corner store”— the employees cared about you and what you wanted,” says Mr. Hart. “At FoBoGro, we want to have a positive impact on our customers and employees, who may have a better experience in the neighborhood or at GW because they came in and were appreciated.”
Once the building was purchased, the transformation took a little over two years. Mr. Hart, who also owns Relaxed Spa & Tans at 2112 F St., NW, serves as owner along with GW Associate Director of Development Chris Kiple, B.A.’06, and Seth Rosenzweig, B.B.A.’01. Mr. Keating is in charge of operations, and GW junior Daniel Blake serves as chief business development officer. Thirty-seven of the 52 staff members at FoBoGro are also GW students or alumni.
“In both my businesses, I utilized the GW network to get to where I am today,” says Mr. Hart. “They are the people who are committed to the GW community and are excited about what we are doing. They appreciate the local neighborhood feel. That’s something that’s important to me.”
“GW students especially are hungry for work experience, so we wanted to provide them with opportunities to contribute in different ways,” says Mr. Keating.
The new grocery boasts three floors of meat, produce, snacks, drinks and cooking items. Personal hygiene items, as well as a wine fridge, candy section and cigar humidor, are just a walk up the stairs.
Mr. Keating says the staff put a lot of thought into the inventory, which includes seasonal items and recipes they cook up for fun. “One of the most enjoyable parts for us is offering products that we like eating ourselves,” he says. “We had a lot of fun selecting the products to put on the shelves.”
The sandwich shop—located in the “basement” of the store and accessible from the outside— features what Mr. Keating describes as “twists on traditionals,” with everything from grilled cheese and egg salad on pumpernickel to more complex concoctions like “The Wellesley” —grilled chicken with brie, green apple, red onion and field greens— and “Cazenovia Sub” which fits, among other ingredients, Italian hot ham, pepperoni, sopressata and provolone between bread. The shop also offers coffee, breakfast pastries and fountain beverages.
Senior Amanda Dick, who is mayor of FoBoGro on the popular “geo-tagging” social media site FourSquare, says FoBoGro’s convenient on-campus location makes other stores “seem so much farther away.” “My favorite item on the sandwich menu is the grilled cheese, as it’s a simple item they’ve made amazing. I also love the candy section,” says Ms. Dick. “I think FoBoGro adds more community to campus and the fact that GW alumni re-opened the store really makes me hope for their continued success.”
“If you want morning coffee, cooking ingredients, lunch, or a snack on the way home, we have it all here,” says Mr. Keating. “I think we’re serving the neighborhood pretty well.”
On May 7, FoBoGro will hold a grand opening, featuring activities, tours and food in Anniversary Park, adjacent to the store. Mr. Hart says the event is a special opportunity to thank local individuals for getting the business off the ground. “The event is more of a celebration of small business and entrepreneurship and to recognize and appreciate the individuals that supported us from the beginning,” he says.
FoBoGro is located at 2140 F St., NW. Hours are 7 a.m.-midnight, everyday. For more information, call 202-296-0125, e-mail [email protected] or visit fobogro.com.