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I worked in the neighborhood in the then-new "Tech World Building" from 1991-96, and the area was much quieter. The opening of the Verizon Center (huge sports and concert arena) in 1997 was the real catalyst that brought in its wake an explosion of new bars, chain restaurants, and shops, followed by many new condo buildings in the area to the north which was given the hip name "NoMa". It seems crazy and wasteful that the old convention center only existed for about 20 short years before it was torn down to build the new one - people said it was too small and obsolete.
The opening of the Verizon Center (huge sports and concert arena) in 1997 was the real catalyst that brought in its wake an explosion of new bars, chain restaurants, and shops, followed by many new condo buildings in the area to the north which was given the hip name "NoMa".
Not to pick nits, but the area you're referring to isn't NoMa. NoMa's western border is North Capitol, with the exception of a small sliver around Union Station bordered by New Jersey Ave. The condo buildings to the north of Chinatown are largely in Mt. Vernon Triangle, although understandbly some of these neighborhood boundaries can seem somewhat subjective and arbitrary.
I was in DC as well as Maryland last year, and was less than impressed with the Chinatown in DC. But I was impressed with Rockville, MD. As others have said, there seems to be a sizable Asian population there, and there is a Taiwanese restaurant that I really liked.
I like DC's Chinatown. No there are almost no Chinese there anymore but I've been to a couple restaurants and I really love the arch. So what if its Chinese in name only? Its still fun. NYC isn't that far if you want a "real" Chinatown. I absolutely love the bright lights of that place it does have a mini Times Square vibe and I think its a good thing.
when dc started cracking down on all the massage parlors, most of them started closing up shop and moving out to the burbs. the massage parlor is a pretty respectable (and profitable) business in the asian community.
Head up to Rockville, MD for the area's real Chinatown. You will hear more Mandarin and Cantonese spoken on the streets of Rockville than English some times. More shops along the Route 355 corridor have Chinese script signage...including national store and banking chains.
Speaking of ethnic enclaves, I can name a few other ethnic TOWN locations in the DC region:
Korea Town: It's a tie between Annandale and Centreville, VA
Viet Town: Falls Church, VA
Little Ethiopia: Downtown Silver Spring
Salvador Town: Mount Pleasant neighborhood in DC
Little Mexico: Manassas, VA
Little Guatemala: Woodbridge, VA
Am I missing any others?
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