Friendship Heights is in the midst of a housing and retail revival
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A rendering of the upcoming development project at 5500 Wisconsin Ave. Image: Courtesy of The Donohoe Companies/CarrAmerica
Friendship Heights is experiencing a wave of new development.
The big picture: The openings are part of a push to resuscitate the neighborhood from a corridor filled with aging buildings and retail closures into a bustling mixed-use destination.
What they're saying: "There's kind of been nothing happening for 15-plus years in the neighborhood" — until now, says Jad Donohoe of The Donohoe Companies, a development group leading multiple projects in the area.
State of play: Several storefronts have opened recently at the new Residences at Mazza apartment building — a redevelopment of the former Mazza Gallerie site that began move-ins this summer.
- The District's first outpost of vino megastore Total Wine is open at the Wisconsin Ave. building, and TJ Maxx recently reopened there after a revamp, according to a spokesperson for the development.
Plus: There's more on the way.
🛒 Trader Joe's: The fan fave seems to be launching soon across the street at Chevy Chase Pavilion (signs and shelves are up), although a spokesperson couldn't share an opening date.
🍴 Wonder: Another outpost of the quickly growing food hall chain is coming to the neighborhood in early 2026 at the Residences at Mazza, per a spokesperson.
- This comes after nearby food hall The Heights closed this year.
💅 Inspire Nail Bar: Get your mani/pedi on when the nail salon opens next year at the former Mazza Gallerie space, per a spokesperson.
The intrigue: A currently unidentified "fast casual salad" chain is coming to the hood early next year, with greens, grain bowls and smoothies, per a spokesperson.
What we're watching: Several other big neighborhood developments are in the works — though the timeline is TBD.
- Just across the Maryland border, a new development is coming to 5500 Wisconsin Ave. — aka the former Brooks Brothers site, Donohoe tells Axios. Expect housing, retail and a pedestrian walkway.
- The Donohoe group is also heading up projects at the former Fox 5 building (expect apartments and a ground-floor cafe with outdoor seating) and the site where the former TV station's tower stands (expect housing), Donohoe tells Axios.
Also on our watch list: A redevelopment of the former Geico headquarters is in the pipeline, with housing and a sports field. A plan was recently approved to remove office space from the project.
- And Federal Realty is set to redevelop Friendship Center, home to Maggiano's and DSW, into new retail and housing.