GQ released a list of the 100 Best Men's Stores in America this week, and local newcomer Maketto made the cut. The brainchild of chef Erik Bruner-Yang and designer Will Sharp, the H St. store is a combination fashion retailer, coffeeshop and restaurant. The clean interior and Asian-inspired design and cuisine lend a unique feeling to the bustling stretch of Northeast D.C. The store was the only District retailer named to the list.
Maketto is also a success story for local real estate crowdfunding startup Fundrise: it was the company's first ever project in 2012. Fundrise facilitated $325K of investment from 175 residents of DC and Virginia, according to the company. The crowdfunded portion of the investment represented approximately a third of the project's total value. The project was completed earlier this year and opened to the public in April.
Fundrise has since completed investments in several other projects around the country, including a major $2M project at 3 World Trade Center in New York. The GQ endorsement is a win for the startup, the store, and the District's retail scene.
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