Skip to content™RESTAURANT OPENING SIGNALS · WASHINGTON, DC · ISSUE 01
Three new DC restaurant licenses worth a closer look
A dated sample of first restaurant licenses in Washington, DC, for suppliers and service providers who want to see the evidence before subscribing.
Published · By OpeningIQ · Records checked the same day
This issue’s records
Each record below is a first restaurant business license issued in Washington, DC in September 2026. A first license at an address is one of the earliest public signs that a restaurant is preparing to open.
These are license signals, not confirmed openings. A new license can relate to a new business, a new location of an existing brand, a relocation or a change of ownership. Opening dates and purchasing plans have not been verified.
Washington, DC · Restaurant
Relish Food 2 LLC
Licensed entity
Relish Food 2 LLC
Premises
140 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Area
Ward 6 · NoMa Business Improvement District
First license issued
September 24, 2026
License status
Active (as of September 29, 2026)
No trade name is listed yet. The "2" in the legal name may point to a second location of an existing operator; that has not been confirmed.
Research angle: Food distribution, POS and payments, and kitchen equipment providers can check whether a storefront, menu or hiring activity is visible at the address.
Source: official DC license record, checked September 29, 2026.
Washington, DC · Restaurant
Bar Nuestro / Colada Shop
Licensed entity
GSD Hospitality LLC
Premises
1345 Yards Pl SE, Washington, DC 20003
Area
Ward 8 · Navy Yard Business Improvement District
First license issued
September 22, 2026
License status
Active (as of September 29, 2026)
Two trade names are listed on one license. If either is an existing brand, a first license at this address can mean a new location, a relocation or a change in the licensed entity.
Research angle: Multi-location operators often standardize vendors, so outreach may run through a central office rather than the site. Confirm the location’s status first.
Source: official DC license record, checked September 29, 2026.
Washington, DC · Restaurant
Sambar n Spice
Licensed entity
Tandon LLC
Premises
1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Area
Ward 5
First license issued
September 21, 2026
License status
Active (as of September 29, 2026)
No opening date has been announced in the record. Look for signage or a soft-opening announcement at the address.
Research angle: Specialty food distributors, signage and insurance providers can review public listings and permits at the address before reaching out.
Source: official DC license record, checked September 29, 2026.
Turn a signal into informed research
Note the license date and premises address.
Look for other signs of progress at the address, such as construction work, signage or hiring.
Check public listings and social accounts for an announced opening, and confirm the business is not already operating.
Decide whether your offering fits before reaching out.
These examples are a selected sample, not a count of new restaurants or a market trend.
Search DC restaurant signals
Continue with Washington, DC selected. Restaurant access includes opening stages, explainable scores and linked source evidence for $19/month. Coverage is not exhaustive; confirm a prospect’s current status before reaching out.
Sources and limitations. Records checked September 29, 2026 against official District of Columbia license records. Details are as recorded on that date. Research angles are suggestions. OpeningIQ is not affiliated with the District of Columbia or the businesses named. This dated report remains a snapshot even as the database refreshes daily.
