There are plans for a indoor retail plaza on the 1300 block of H Street NE –and the family behind the plans, the Askarinams, has business history in DC and faith in the Atlas District.
Back in the 1990s when dinosaurs roamed the earth and DC had a mayor-for-life, after a late night at Madam’s Organ, Spaghetti Gardens was the place club-goers went for a delicious repast. Opening its doors in 1979, operated by the brothers Iraj and Soleiman Askarinam, the establishment remained an o destination for over a decade.
Iraj ed way from COVID on June 2, 2020. Soleiman, with the aid of his son Jonathan, continued to operate the family businesses which include a restaurant and several properties in Adams-Morgan.
The Askarinams are originally from the Iranian city of Shiraz. Soleiman traveled to the United States to study petroleum engineering. Landing in DC to stay with family, he fell in love with the city. Graduating later from Texas A&M, his career plans were sunk by the collapse of the petroleum market in the wake of the Iranian Revolution.
Undeterred, Soleiman returned to DC, driving a cab to pay the bills. In the interim, his brother Iraj had learned the art of Italian cooking, working in the kitchen at the famed Ruffino’s Spaghetti House in Arlington. The two pooled their resources to open Spaghetti Garden. Soleiman worked as the front of the house while Iraj ran the kitchen.
It was hard work. “To make money is always a struggle,” Soleiman said.
His son Jonathan grew up in the restaurant. He re working as a kid as a busboy and a server. Graduating from University of Maryland Baltimore with a degree in economics, he ed his father and uncle in the family business, working in their restaurants for a decade. While he worked in Adams-Morgan, Jonathan chose to play on the other end of the city on H Street NE. He soon fell in love with the neighborhood.
In partnership with his father, Jonathan purchased four buildings on five ading parcels. The most well-known address is 1355 H Street NE, the former home of the Biergarten. The four-building footprint totals more than 14,000 square feet, including an expansive roof deck.
“Every day, I learn more about the neighborhood and how ionate the community is in ing the revival of the H Street corridor,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan envisions turning his family’s H Street NE holdings into a community hub. Borrowing an Italian word for connection, he named his project “Nesso Plaza.” The development will ultimately house upwards of 12 tenants. Focusing on neighborhood-serving retail, he hopes to attract a mix of tenants including a butcher, fitness center, coffee shop, nail salon and barber. All, he hopes, will operate at affordable price points, he said. In a sense, he wants to create a community hub and crossroads.
“We want our project to play a major role in the story of H Streets’ revival. I truly believe the corridor will be back sooner rather than later.” Jonathan said.
