Many Alexandria residents have been eagerly anticipating the opening of popular D.C.-based bagel shop and deli Call Your Mother since the news broke that they were opening an Alexandria location last July.
But Eva Martorell and Martin Kamm, who own 130 N. Pitt St. where the deli was supposed to open, confirmed to Alexandria Living Magazine that the company pulled out of their lease in February, in order to focus on alternative locations in the DMV area.
According to the deli, the buildout at the proposed location at the corner of Cameron Street and Pitt Street was too expensive. Additionally, the deli was “had difficulty and struggled in securing building and occupancy permits in the City of Alexandria as they were not prepared for the Old Town Alexandria’s permitting process and nuances,” they told Martorell and Kamm, the owners said.
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Call Your Mother recently opened its seventh location at Logan Circle in D.C. It also has locations at Park View/Georgia Avenue, Capitol Hill, Georgetown, and West End in D.C and two locations in Bethesda.
The 1,850 square feet at 130 N. Pitt St. is once again available for rent, and the owners said they are encouraged that there has been an increase in interest in the spot and they are excited to find a new tenant.
“[We] are diligently pursuing best opportunities in light of their lease termination. At the time when the lease was secured with Call Your Mother, the retail market was suffering as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, there are more retail openings than closings and the trend is continuing," Kamm and Martorell told Alexandria Living Magazine.
Attempts to contact Call Your Mother about the termination of their lease and whether or not they intend to open at another location in Alexandria were not returned.
