CALLBX_200502_060
Existing comment:
Cathedral Heights Business District

As Washington expanded to the Northwest in the 1920s, modest homes were built on farmland in an area known first as Fairview Heights and then as Cathedral Heights, north of Fulton Street and west of Wisconsin Avenue. A Greek family recognized the neighborhood's potential and constructed shops, with second floor apartments, on either side of Macomb Street. First the merchants opened a candy store, then a series of restaurants. by the 1950s the Zebra Room, a restaurant and bar, occupied the southwest corner and became a gathering spot for locals and politicians. Generations of Cathedral Heights families shopped in the small stores nearby, buying their children's shoes at the Modern Shoe Shop on Macomb Street and birthday cakes and ice cream at University Pastry on Wisconsin Avenue. IN 1953 the business district doubled with the construction of Friendship Shopping Center, anchored by a state-of-the art Giant Food supermarket. It featured what were then the latest retail innovations, self-serve open shelves and a large parking lot.

Artist: Mary Grigonis
Proposed user comment: