DC Metro Commercial Real Estate Market Update: October 2026
MILLER WALKER Retail Real Estate
October 2026 edition | Reporting current through October 16, 2026
Restaurant openings, retail construction and property reinvestment feature in this month’s DC metro commercial real estate news. This review brings together recent neighborhood reporting and regional coverage of dining, shopping, hospitality and the office market.
Related property information is available in our Washington, DC retail properties for lease. The developments below span recent reporting from late September through October 16; future openings and construction targets are identified separately from completed openings.
This month at a glance: The roundup covers restaurant openings, Loudoun retail projects, a Union Market hospitality proposal and DC office activity. Completed openings, announced dates, construction and proposals are identified by their reported stage.
Which restaurant and retail projects are in the news?
| Business | Location | Reported status |
|---|---|---|
| Botiwalla | Tenleytown, DC | Opened October 14 |
| Bar Nuestro | Navy Yard, DC | October 28 opening announced |
| Pitango Gelato | South Riding, VA | October 28 opening announced |
| Barnes & Noble | Dulles Landing, VA | Construction underway; December target reported |
Status as of October 16. Sources: Axios, October 14; Eater DC, October 14; and The Burn’s October 13 and October 14 reports.
Botiwalla’s operator lists its DC location at 4000 Wisconsin Avenue NW. In Navy Yard, Eater DC reports that Bar Nuestro is preparing to open at 1345 Yards Place SE, at the base of the Urby apartment building.
The reported DC restaurant projects span Tenleytown and Navy Yard, with Botiwalla already open and Bar Nuestro preparing for its announced October 28 debut. Related property information appears in MILLER WALKER’s DC restaurant leasing collection.
How is Loudoun’s retail mix changing?
The Burn’s October 14 reporting identifies a roughly 23,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble under construction at Dulles Landing, in the former BuyBuy Baby space. The reported opening target is December. The outlet also reports that Pitango Gelato plans to open October 28 at South Riding Market Square, taking a corner unit previously occupied by GameStop.
Both projects involve spaces formerly occupied by other retailers: a large store at Dulles Landing and a corner shop at South Riding Market Square. At the reporting cutoff, the bookstore was under construction and the gelato shop had announced an opening date.
What is planned for Union Market?
In its September 29 coverage, PoPville carried EDENS’ plans for Late Checkout and Nº 31 at 4th and Penn streets NE. The former motel is planned to become a 30-room hospitality property with a restaurant, cocktail bar and outdoor gathering space. The announced opening target is spring 2027.
What is happening in DC’s office market?
Commercial Observer’s October 2 review, citing Savills, reports about 1.8 million square feet of DC office leasing in Q3 2026, compared with about 2 million in Q2. It identifies Google’s approximately 210,000-square-foot consolidation at 500 North Capitol Street NW as the quarter’s largest lease.
Reported leasing volume, millions of square feet
Source: Savills, as reported by Commercial Observer, October 2, 2026. Figures are rounded and refer to DC office leasing.
Building reinvestment is another part of that picture. Bisnow reported September 30 that Gould Property Co. is investing $25 million in upgrades at 401 Ninth Street NW. The plans include lobby, fitness and conference amenities.
Related MILLER WALKER property resources include fitness and gym space in DC.
Which store closures have been announced?
IKEA confirmed plans to close its Georgetown, Annapolis and Fairfax plan-and-order locations, Retail Dive reported October 2. The Georgetown closure was scheduled for October 18 and Fairfax for November 30. The report describes a reassessment of this smaller planning-and-order format within the retailer’s broader network.
What is on downtown DC’s holiday calendar?
Looking ahead, the DowntownDC BID’s October 7 update says the DowntownDC Holiday Market is scheduled for November 13 through December 23. The announcement also outlines a holiday kick-off weekend involving Franklin Park and CityCenterDC.
About MILLER WALKER
MILLER WALKER represents retail landlords and tenants across Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. Information about the firm’s tenant representation services is available online, and the team can be reached at 202-333-0303.