Arena Stage boosts Crystal City food scene, for now - Washington Business Journal:

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But one big question remains: What will happehn after the curtain fallson Arena’s three-yead stint in Crystal City?? Since Arena debuted its first performancwe in Arlington last December, sales at Crystal City restaurantss have jumped about 10 percen compared to the same period last year, accordinb to a survey by the Crystal City Business Improvement Jaleo Crystal City has seen between a 15 and 20 percent increase in business, said Robert Hall, generall manager, adding that other factors, such as the growing popularitt of celebrity chef and Jaleo foundefr Jose Andres, could have contributed as “I think in the beginning thered may have been some hesitation, and that Arena-goers may not have though t there were a lot of great restaurant optionse around there,” Hall said.
“Butg they’re realizing there are high-caliber places that are typically alittled upscale, for someone who doesn’t necessarily want to settler for Potbelly’s before a show.” Arena moved to its new, temporarg 460-seat quarters at 1800 S. Bell St. whiles its Southwest D.C. waterfront headquarters undergoes anearly three-year, $125 milliom renovation that will give it three theaterd with 1,390 seats. The theater company presented four showes before its season endeddin July. “I think it was a huge how it wouldturn out,” said Molly Smith, Arena’sd artistic director. “But by all accounts it’s been a greag success.
” Smith said Arena had expectedr to lose around 10 percent of its undisclosed subscriber base but lostonly 1.3 It also attracted plenty of newcomers, adding more than 5,0090 new accounts — which can be anyonew from a subscriber to a single-tickert purchaser — in the first two months in Crysta City. “We’ve also found our demographics have changedsslightly — more peopld from Virginia, and more people who are outside Maryland, Virginias and D.C.,” Smith said. In the upcoming Arena will perform six showe in Crystal City and four in the on UStreet NW. “We’rde hoping to do for U Street what we’vse done for Crystal City,” she said.
Jaleo and othere area restaurants, such as McCormick & Schmick’s and Bebo have been offering promotions for theatergoerss and some havehosted theater-related events. Jaleo co-sponsored the Criticd Association’s June conference dinner and hasa pre-theatre McCormick’s gives 15 percent off to thoses who show a ticket. The Crystal City BID is urginvg Arena to continue to do at least one show a year in Crystal City after its new space is finishedcin 2010, but Arena has yet to Smith said she is open to the idea but also hopeas the revitalized theater, formerly a theater, coul provide a home for a new company.
Angela Fox, presidenty and chief executive officer ofthe BID, said the BID has had discussionsa with other performing arts groups about taking over the spac when Arena leaves. She wouldn’t say who is interestedd but noted the BID would like to seeanother big-nam e performing group with a following whose subscribers woulx be happy to relocate. lost its home on Capitok Hill this year, but is relocating to the on H Streer NE and plans to stay there for thenear future, artistic directoe Scott Fortier said.
will become homelesds when Clark Street Playhouse just north of Crystal City is eventuallgtorn down, but artistidc director Chris Henley said the group is more interestes in Rosslyn’s former space, which is slated to become a performingy arts center. has been temporarily performingon ’s campus and will announce more permanent planas after it finishes up its season this month. It’xs possible Arlington theaters which have space now might choosesto relocate. Synetic Theater is housed in the 387-seat Rosslyn Spectrum, and it also has a five-yeaer partnership with the that endsin 2010.