Mar 9, 2021

Today at 2:15pm A new CVS Pharmacy is open at the revamped Central District Retail shopping plaza, also known as “Crystal Square,” in Crystal City. The store opened on Sunday, Feb. 28, a JBG Smith spokesperson confirmed. It is part of a major redevelopment that the developer has planned for a block of Crystal Drive between 15th and 18th streets. In 2018, the County Board approved the development, which JBG says will blend retail, public spaces and transit services. Signage appears to be up for two more occupants: Mah-Ze-Dahr , a bakery said to have some of  New York City’s best doughnuts , as well as a yet-unnamed specialty grocery store. The first D.C. outpost of the NYC bakery opened in Navy Yard in the fall . JBG once more declined to comment on which grocer will be filling the space. Permits indicate that this specialty grocer will offer prepared foods like packaged salads, sandwiches, entrees and soups, as well as various beverages. The permits further specify that the store will have “self app check-out.” A spokesperson previously confirmed that the specialty grocery store will also have produce, meats and poultry, frozen foods and baked goods. Taken as a whole, the concept sounds similar to that of Amazon Fresh stores , a new bricks-and-mortar retail offering of the ecommerce and cloud computing giant that’s currently constructing its HQ2 up the street. The store will be built in the existing office building at 1550 Crystal Drive, according to the county. The new one-story retail area will replace a 1990s-era strip and will link the grocery store to a planned Alamo Drafthouse movie theater at 1750 Crystal Drive. The theater chain recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy , however, adding some uncertainty to its Crystal City plans. Meanwhile, an outpost of New York City taco chain Tacombi  and the boutique fitness gym  Solidcore — which has locations in Courthouse and Ballston — are still on track to open in the area. A spokeswoman for Solidcore confirmed that the gym is slated to open this summer. “Central District Retail will enhance the street-level experience with new dining, shopping and entertainment options on Crystal Drive,” Amy Rice, senior vice president of Retail Leasing at JBG Smith, previously told ARLnow in a statement. “It will serve as the retail heart of National Landing and a vibrant destination for people throughout the region.”