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Entrance to the Waffle Shop at 522 10th Street NW, Washington D.C. Circa 1950 photograph by Theodor Horydczak. View full size.
My title says it all.
Gone are the Waffle Shop's glory days. Google Street View. The house where Lincoln was carried into (and died) is just to the left, and Ford's Theater as mentioned is directly across the street.
There were three Waffle Shops that I knew about. One was this one, the second was at Mount Vernon Avenue and Russell Road in the Arlandria section of Alexandria, built on a triangular corner plot. The third was at King and Washington streets in Old Town Alexandria. There might have been more in Maryland.
I like how the patterns of squares and rectangles of the windows, ceiling lights, chairs, and the rest of the decor all echo the pattern of a waffle itself.
Bit by bit D.C. is losing what soul it had. This place was a gem.
Did anyone realize that Ford's Theater (Lincoln's assassination) is right across the street?!
I love this, wish there was one in my town.
According to the more recent Washington Post story at this link, the developer has agreed to transplant the Waffle Shop on 10th where this photo was taken, and its fixtures, to a nearby location. (Note the links to old and new photos)
I'm using that font for my next resume. Snazzy!
Here's a link to a December 2006 Washington Post article about the Waffle Shop and possible plans for its future.
Hai Ngo's lease expires this year. The block was bought by developer Douglas Jemal and is going to be turned into an office complex. Hopefully some vestige of the Waffle Shop will remain.
The waffle shop is actually still more-or-less intact in downtown DC, though probably not for long. The neighborhood around the building has changed dramatically in the last 5 years, and I'd bet money that the Waffle Shop will soon be torn down for another bland office building.
I recall counters like this all the way into the 70's. I loved, loved, loved the paper cone cups in metal holders that were used to serve water (I was a grade schooler in the 70's), the camaraderie of the countermates and the cool, efficient service. Thanks, Shorpy.
Got a cool thumbnail for this one in my Google reader.
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