If you like the Museum of Unnatural History, the funny gift shop that serves as a storefront and fundraiser for the 826DC tutoring center on the Civic Plaza, you had better go there soon.
The Post reports that 826DC will be moving across Park Road to the mezzanine of the Tivoli Theatre. 826DC says it’s more space and more affordable, so that sounds like a good thing.
Having only been inside once, I’m not exactly sure where that is, and how it would impact the current performance space. I’ve reached out to the 826DC folks to ask. The Post says “The street-level entrance leads to a marble staircase. Murals visible through office windows and crown molding suggest a 1920’s-era grandeur.”
Joe Callahan from 826DC just got back to me on the space:
Our space was the original mezzanine space of the old theater – it is next to the Gala theater on the Mezzanine level (on the other side of the dentist office that is there – if you are familiar).
The space has a street entrance on Park Road next to the side entrance of Z-Burger, and it was formerly occupied by Three Spot Media.
The Museum of Unnatural History shop will also close, but there will be a new shop in the same space with a new theme. Here’s more about the funky shop.
Here’s 826DC’s announcement from an email:
After searching for nearly two years, we are so excited to announce that826DC recently signed a 10-year lease on a new location.
As you know, over the past five amazing years, we have grown from serving 300 students to more than 4,300; by the end of next school year we hope to grow to serve 5,000 students per year. When we first kicked open our doors in October 2010, we had a staff of two. By the end of this summer, we will have a staff of eight full-time employees and one part-time employee.
We are so proud to be staying in Columbia Heights, moving across the street to the historic Tivoli building, to a bigger and more cost-effective space, that will allow us to continue to grow and provide much needed arts education and academic support to DC youth.
This is the beginning of the second chapter of our story here in the District, and we wouldn’t have been able to get here without the amazing support of our friends, our donors, our volunteers, and the students who breathe life and fun and creativity into our work.
By signing a long-term lease, we are planting ourselves firmly into our community, and will be able to continue to grow to make lasting change in Columbia Heights and across the Washington, DC, area.
