CityCenterDC celebrates 10 years of luxury this holiday season
By WP Creative Group
November 20, 2023
This December marks the 10th anniversary of CityCenterDC, the popular, pedestrian-friendly retail and residential neighborhood in downtown D.C.
CityCenterDC opened in December 2013, offering visitors more than 40 world-class shops and fantastic eateries to frequent, as well as architecturally stunning public spaces and regular events for the entire family to enjoy.
“There were a lot of temporary uses of this space over the years,” said Timothy Lowery, a vice president with the global commercial real estate investment firm Hines, who also serves as the General Manager of CityCenterDC. “It was a parking lot for many years, but with CityCenterDC, we certainly built something that was new and needed in downtown.
Shopping, dining and living in style
CityCenterDC boasts over 200,000 square feet of retail space, making it the perfect destination when shopping for loved ones – or when treating yourself.
These retail spaces place special emphasis on luxury brands such as Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, filling a gap in the downtown shopping scene. CityCenterDC is also home to the only Hermès in the DMV area.
“Until CityCenter opened, most luxury consumption was transacting in the suburbs, not downtown,” Lowery said. “There was a Macy’s and other one-off brand establishments around downtown. Most major cities in the world have a high street retail experience, so I’m proud that CityCenterDC established such an experience for the nation’s capital.”
In between shopping, visitors should be sure to enjoy a meal at one of CityCenter’s restaurants. Pasta-lovers will appreciate Centrolina’s authentic and award-winning Italian dishes, and Dolcezza, a local gelato and coffee shop, is the perfect place for a sweet dessert after dinner.
Local Washingtonians have the unique opportunity to rent one of 458 residences at CityCenter, choosing between 57 unique floor plans. Lowery says living at CityCenterDC puts residents in the middle of D.C.’s exciting downtown scene.
“People who live here want to be in an urban environment,” he said. “There’s something special about the energy that attracts people to be at CityCenter, where there’s always something more to explore. Residents also get special discounts from some of the retailers and food and beverage operators.”
Out-of-town visitors can continue their luxurious experience by booking a stay at The Conrad Washington, CityCenterDC’s modern and elegant hotel. The 360-key hotel was a 2019 addition to the neighborhood, bringing a sophisticated seafood restaurant and a rooftop bar with stunning views of downtown.
Spreading holiday cheer
Each year, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, CityCenterDC hosts an annual Holiday Tree Lighting celebration, complete with carols and snow.
“We have been very successful at creating traditions,” said Lowery. “Probably the most notable example of that is our holiday tree lighting. It’s our small Rockefeller Center moment in downtown D.C.. Last year, approximately 7,000 people came to the event!”
The tree, which is 75 feet tall and one of the largest in the city, is decorated with more than 150,000 lights and 4,500 ornaments.
This year, CityCenterDC will also sell commemorative Christmas tree ornaments in honor of the 10 year anniversary. All of the proceeds will go to The Children’s National Hospital.
Beyond the holiday season, CityCenter continues to offer a range of free events that bring the community together, such as a summer concert series and a local farmers’ market that runs from May to October each year. CorePower Yoga, the studio located in CityCenter, also offers Toned Up Tuesdays, a free weekly 45-minute outdoor yoga class.
“During the summer concert series, all residents have to do is open up their door or sit on their balcony to enjoy a beautiful concert,” Lowery said. “We had three themes this year – ’90s, Motown and disco. We saw so many of our apartment and condominium residents in the Plaza dancing!”
When considering this parcel of land, the City had three primary goals for the developer: to create a unique, mixed-use urban neighborhood with residential, office, hotel and restaurants; to provide a location that was first and foremost for the city and its residents; and to build this development with the highest level of quality and innovation in urban design and architecture.
Ten years later, Lowery is proud to say CityCenterDC meets every mark.
“CityCenterDC is one of the most significant, transformative projects in the United States,” he said. “Before CityCenter, this area was very different, but the project has paved the way to transform this area into something that’s of benefit to people who live in the District, people who are visiting, people who work downtown and people who just happen upon CityCenterDC accidentally.”
Learn more about how to experience CityCenterDC.
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