Columbia Plaza

I’d say I’d give Columbia Plaza a solid 3.5 stars. I’m sort of shocked this place is still in its current look given how it seems like everything in DC regardless of neighborhood if it looks old and worn its either torn down or given a total overhaul. Coming here gave me a flashback to my early childhood in the late 70s. I think my mom used to get her hair done here back in the day. Overall its not bad its just sort of blah looking. What it does have going for it is a nice open outdoor space in the middle of the shops there. Granted if you’re not going for something specific (i.e. Segway or bike tour) the only other likely reason you might come by is 1. if you live nearby, or 2. if you work nearby.

Rat is a big issue here, Laundry is not maintained very well. Elevator are down most of the time and we have to wait for 15 — 20 mins for elevators to come.
I would not recommend anyone to stay here.

I once had an expensive long gray cardigan that was cozy and slimming. After I brought it here, I had a child-​size fuzzy sweater. Unfortunately, I have no child. I was crushed by the damage but took it in stride. After all, it was only a cardigan, not a child.
That said, I expected an apology and a $ 5.20 cleaning fee refund. I never got the first and only got the latter after two trips back to the cleaners and yelling at the owner. You see, she questioned whether my sweater had ever been adult-​sized. After that, she insisted that a weeklong investigation be undertaken in order to determine if the shrunken sweater could be re-​enlarged and unfuzzed. NOTE TO THE PEOPLE OF MY ZIP CODE: NEVER COME HERE. There’s a fine alternative dry cleaners just a few block away in the Watergate building.

I have been eating the chili cheese mustard onion half smokes from this guy for the last year and a half. They NEVER fail to be one of the best tasting half smokes around. If it wasn’t that Bens gives you an experience and a ton more chili on their dogs, I would say that these half smokes definitely compare to Bens. $ 2.50 for a half smoke seems like a solid price to me! He even has deals on multiple halfs and dogs if you are feeling particularly hungry.
You can tell that the vendor uses quality products and during lunch time you can smell the delicious aroma of his cart from over 50 ft. away. Ask yourself, when has a hot dog cart ever smelled good? This one does!
I have convinced many of my friends and colleagues to buy from this cart, and everyone agrees as to the great taste and friendliness of the owner.
The owner is from Afghanistan, has lived in America for the last 20 years and is an extremely friendly person. Sometimes, I help him move the cart in the morning if I am walking by and see him doing it by himself. There have even been times where I have seen him give people free food who either didn’t have enough money or the correct change available. He just says «pay me later.»
He is only out there Monday — Friday working hours as he largely caters to the government, tourist and student community that pass by the cart. I should also say that he has fresh pretzels (that he buys daily from somewhere downtown, he wouldn’t tell me) as well as a variety of drinks and other snacks.

I took a pair of slacks there for cleaning and minor alteration, and they came out fine, so I just dropped another pair off. Dry cleaning slacks costs $ 5-​something. The woman who runs the place is quiet, but seems very nice.

I live in Columbia Plaza, so having an easily accessible dry cleaners is wonderful. Dry cleaning services in the city are expensive, though. Last winter, I inquired about the price of a white coat and she said $ 18.95. However, she rang it up as a «sports jacket» when I actually brought it in for only $ 13.95. This year, after only wearing my beautiful white coat twice, I slipped on a patch of ice and my coat was all muddied up! I was so sad. But, I guess prices have fallen because she rang it up as a sports jacket, but my total including tax was only $ 11.23 this time around.
I don’t bring clothes to dry cleaners too often, so I cannot say whether CP Valet Cleaners is necessarily the best. However, the prices are competitive (i.e. I brought the same white coat to a different cleaner 2 years ago and they charged my belt as a separate piece!). The lady working there is not super friendly, but she is okay. She actually warned me the mud stain on my white coat may not come out completely, but it is gone. Of course, mud should not be a difficult stain to remove. I have yet to see if they can do a good job to remove tougher stains. Overall, the convenience and increasingly lower prices leave me satisfied.

$ 4.50 will get you two all beef hot dogs, a bag of chips and a cold can of soda. Cheapest eat in the area! Located right outside the entrance to Columbia Plaza. The vendor is meticulous and attentive.
A buddy of mine bought me lunch here one day. It was great. I got my hot dogs with EVERYTHING including the cooked onions. I selected my bag of sour cream and onion chips and told the vendor that I wanted a Coke. He took my bag of chips and put it in the bag. Then, digging down into the icebox inside the cart, he grabbed a cold Coke, which he wrapped with napkins before putting in my bag. Upon delivering $ 9 to the vendor, we then went into Columbia Plaza and sat at one of the picnic tables for our dogs.
Another day, I reciprocated on the dog deal. Still $ 4.50. Still hot doggityness.
I have been back since. These dogs even satisfy those who are sensitive to cart food (not me). In name brand sodas, I have moved on to Fanta. I love orange soda!
Oh, and, the tip «jar» is a plastic cup right by the window of the cart.
Hey, whadda want? Sure, it’s a hot dog cart. This is not haute cuisine. It’s the hot dog special!

I needed a bridesmaid’s dress STEAMED (not cleaned, JUST steamed because it was wrinkly) and they charged me $ 35! What a rip off! Don’t go here! Also they were really not very nice (I had to ask when I could pick it up, they didn’t give me a time frame, and then their answer was ‘when do you NEED it?’ rather than telling me an actual date.) Just don’t go here. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth just thinking about it.