When passing by Howard University’s campus, Washingtonians and visitors can check out a handful of dining options, especially along Wonder Plaza on Georgia Avenue NW. However, due to remodeling initiatives to improve the university’s campus, restaurants along the strip will close indefinitely.
The 110,000-square-foot space will be home to the anticipated Fusion Building, a mixed-use development, including approximately 280 new student housing units, retail options, a student dining hall and a wellness center. Per the university’s Central Campus Master Plan (CCMP), establishments existing in the plaza will need to be “razed or selectively demolished” to accommodate the transformation.
“[The CCMP] is an ambitious plan that balances numerous factors to aid the university in furthering our mission through transformative major academic, campus life and healthcare initiatives,” said Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, Howard’s former president, in a statement.
Due to the expected remodeling, restaurants on the strip like Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Negril Jamaican Eatery, located at 2301 Georgia Avenue NW, have shut down. Wonder Plaza’s Chipotle and Subway remain open, but will close in the future at an unspecified time.
“Although the existing building, originally constructed in 1902 for the Corby Baking Company, is not listed as a historic site, portions of its façade will be preserved to maintain a connection to the site’s historical character,” Bolger Engineering wrote in a statement supporting the development.
More Than a Meal: What Negril Meant to One Newcomer
When Alisa A. first moved to the District from Indiana five years ago, the Negril at Wonder Plaza was her first impression of the city. She was hungry after driving for 10 hours through the night and stopped at Negril for a beef patty.
“I still have my original receipt from June 26, 2020, because it had a special place in my heart during a challenging moment in life when I relocated in the middle of a pandemic and did not know where I was going,” she told The Informer.
The family-owned Jamaican restaurant was founded in 1979 by native Jamaican Early Chin after he realized the city lacked authentic cuisine from the Caribbean island. It has been a staple near Howard’s Campus for more than 30 years, and has additional locations in Laurel, Mitchellville and Silver Spring.
While the last day for Negril at Wonder Plaza was May 23, the restaurant plans to stay in Northwest and is projected to reopen up the street at the former NuVegan Cafe location, on Georgia Avenue and Columbia Road.
While the management team is not yet sure when the new storefront will be ready to open, they know customers will be anxiously waiting for the moment.
“[Relocating] wasn’t a surprise because it was something in the making that came down with a hammer just now,” manager Dameon Johnson told The Informer. “All the customers miss us. They are crying, so hopefully we want to see if our new spot can be ready before time.”
After learning about the restaurant’s plans to relocate, A., who has now explored other culinary options around the nation’s capital, vowed to visit weekly up until Negril at Wonder Plaza officially shuttered its doors.
She commends the restaurant for providing genuine and welcoming human interaction– something that was especially crucial when she first arrived in the city.
“[Negril is] a slice of home and a slice of comfort in the midst of chaos,” she told The Informer.
A Landmark of Student Life
As the plaza is located near the university’s main entrance and residence halls, including Howard Plaza Towers and Axis, its establishments have proven to be integral to students’ experience at the historically Black university. For some, those restaurants were their first taste of D.C.’s food scene, and for others, it served as an alternative to the university’s dining options.
For recent international business graduate Jessica Jean-Charles, Wonder Plaza symbolized the beginning of her matriculation at Howard. Her go-to spot was the Potbelly at the end of the strip.
“The first time I’d ever been to the plaza was my first night at Howard University,” Jean-Charles told The Informer. “Me and all of my roommates went to Potbelly, so I feel like I’m losing out on a lot of memories due to its closure.”
While saddened by the establishments shutting down, Jean-Charles is hopeful about the fact that more students will have an opportunity to live on campus, which is necessary considering the number of first-time in college (FTIC) students has increased compared to pre-pandemic enrollment.
From the 2019 fall semester to the 2021 fall semester, the number of FTIC students increased from 1,920 to 2,763. Although the numbers decreased to 2,489 in 2022 and again to 2,261 in 2023, the FTIC enrollment increased to 2,500 students for the 2024 fall semester. At Howard, housing is guaranteed for freshmen and sophomores, so more residence space is crucial to maintain that promise.
Senior political science major Jocelyn Welsh acknowledges the university’s obligation to accommodate its students, but was shocked to hear of Wonder Plaza’s redesign.
“I understand they’re turning it into dorms, which is very needed, but also devastating because that strip is so nostalgic and part of my Howard story,” Welsh told The Informer. “[I would] stop in there late at night after the dining halls closed, or to socialize during homecoming or late nights with friends.”
The construction of the anticipated Fusion Building will be a drastic change to both the campus and city infrastructure, but the memories made and meals eaten at the plaza will hold a special place in the hearts of students, residents and visitors.
“Since the [enrollment] rate has gone up, housing is definitely needed and appreciated,” Welsh said, “but that strip will definitely be missed.”
