LANDLORDS COMMAND HIGH RENTS IN GALLERY PLACE

Bedrock Billards or some variation of it will open in Gallery Place/Downtown on 7th St. across from the Verizon Center. With the arena, Lucky Strike and the movie theater, 7th St. can really lay claim to being an DC entertainment hub.

Rent in the basement space for this poolhall will command more than $80/SF, reports WashBizJournal. That's $400K a year for only 5K SF of space. This is serious money for a below-grade retail.

Commenting on the strength of the 7th St. corridor, Transwestern Commercial Services broker Bill Miller said there's a 30K SF parcel of retail expected to become available at 7th and H Sts. NW. CVS may stay in the space, says Miller, who's negotiating with the retailer. Nonetheless, more than 20K SF feet will be available at $100 a square foot and "no one has gone, 'You're nuts'" when they hear the asking price, Miller says.