Wisconsin Avenue seems to be having a renaissance of sorts. The blocks between about N Street up to about P Street have always been dicey. The "anchor" in this area is the Georgetown Inn and CVS.  Appalachian Spring and The Christ Child Opportunity Shop provide a historical footing, but otherwise the retail can be pretty bland. A lot of shop-owners in the Book Hill area complain that they lose foot traffic unless the shopper is local and knows to keep heading up the hill.

That may be changing. Recently there have been a number of signs of new retail in some long abandoned sites. At the corner of P street and Wisconsin across from Thomas Sweets' is the old AT&T shop that is now being reworked. The permit says it is remaining retail space but what? Although parking is tough at this intersection the visibility is great.

A block down the hill at 1432 Wisconsin Ave., one of the former tenants of the National Jewel Center is opening a shop. Signs announce Majesty Jewelry and report that the opening is this week.

Only a few doors down further, 1424 Wisconsin Ave. has been very busy but no one is saying what is going in. It is a big location that housed a men's clothing store until last year. By the look of the demolished brick around the entryway this is not a minor rehab.

Around the corner on O street at the funny pet accessory site, something is happening. Again the permit says retails but no sign as to what. Wingos is getting a new neighbor.

Unfortunately, all the optimism about this part of Georgetown is still speculative.  And the big "For Sale" signs at the dark National Jewel Center do not help.

Can this part of Georgetown sparkle during the holidays?