South Block, the DMV-born açaí and smoothie chain, is gearing up to plant its flag in Eastern Market at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. The company has inked a lease with EastBanc Inc. and says the café is slated to start pouring and blending in early 2027, bringing made-to-order açaí bowls, smoothies, cold-pressed juices and toasts to Capitol Hill's busy market corridor.
Lease and opening plans
According to PoPville, South Block has signed on for space at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue SE and is targeting an early 2027 opening. The announcement lays out weekday hours of 7 a.m.–8 p.m. and weekend hours of 8 a.m.–8 p.m., with the new spot set to offer the brand's full lineup of bowls, smoothies and cold-pressed juices.
Grand-opening celebration
To kick things off, the company is planning a block party-style grand opening, complete with a live DJ, family-friendly activities and free açaí bowls for the first 100 guests. “Opening in Eastern Market feels especially meaningful because Washington, D.C. has been home to South Block for the past 15 years,” South Block founder Amir Mostafavi said in the release, as reported by PoPville.
Developer and property context
According to EastBanc, 700 Penn is positioned between Barracks Row and Market Row and combines office space with ground-floor retail. The listing plays up the development's blend of national and local tenants and describes the plaza as a transit-oriented retail hub for Capitol Hill residents and shoppers.
Roots and giving back
South Block traces its retail start to a 2011 opening in Arlington's Clarendon neighborhood, and the company's locations map now flags Eastern Market as “coming soon.” Fruitful Planet and South Block note that a portion of sales helps support the nonprofit's fresh-produce donations, and local coverage has pointed to a recent growth push after investor funding, according to WTOP.
For now, the address to keep an eye on is 700 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, where smoothies, açaí bowls and a neighborhood block party are on the horizon when South Block opens early next year. The company and EastBanc say additional details will roll out as opening day gets closer.
