Big Bear Cafe in Bloomingdale, DC illustrates two urban revitalization principles

Big Bear Cafe, Bloomingdale neighborhood, featuring wood floors salvaged in part from Community Forklift.

Big Bear Cafe is a new coffee shop that has opened up at 1st and Florida Avenues (and R Street NW) in the Bloomingdale neighborhood. I like the vibe--wood floors, exposed brick, and nice outside seating.

The proprietors also helped bring to the neighborhood a Sunday farmers market located immediately adjacent to the Cafe on the little "stub" block of R Street between 1st street and Florida Avenue.

Patio on the Florida Avenue/R Street NW side of the establishment.

1. Speaking of the vibe, Big Bear Cafe is an example of restaurant-driven revitalization. You need reasons for people to get out of their houses and walk to places within their neighborhoods. In places with a dearth of retail, restaurants help make it happen.

See "Richard's Rules for Restaurant-Driven Revitalization."

I always think that "quality" goes without saying but alas, it doesn't. It's key to provide high quality--not necessary at the height of design but attractive--design, food quality, and customer service.

2. Layering. Fred Kent of the Project for Public Spaces talks about layering in the article "Pride of Place: Fred Kent and the Project for Public Spaces," from the April 2005 issue of Governing Magazine. He calls for building a critical mass of attractions that bring people out and together, saying:

“If you have a children’s reading room inside and a playground outside, then you put a coffee shop, a Laundromat and a bus stop right there, you will create the busiest spot in your community.”

Coffee shop + farmers market + including outside seeing visible to others coming by + bus stop + park across the street

Well, you should get the picture.

Bloomingdale Farmers Market.