In early 2020, Julie Wineinger’s neighbors, like many people across the District, were struggling to find essentials at heavily picked over supermarkets. They were out of eggs and flour, but Lulabelle’s Sweet Shop (847 Upshur Street NW) was stocked.
“It was kind of crazy,” Wineinger said. “You could get milk, you get eggs, you get bread, ice cream, chocolate, you name it and you could basically get it.”
Originally created as an ice cream shop, Lulabelle’s began ordering grocery essentials from their restaurant suppliers during the pandemic for customers to pick up. The shop has maintained its extensive inventory long past the unprecedented shortages of every day essentials.
A variety of gourmet sweets, drinks and sundries remain available in the cozy Petworth shop today.
The tight-knit, friendly community in Petworth has been special to Wineinger and her family since they moved to the District in 2008. “It’s almost like living in a small town in DC because you know everyone,” she said noting that she knows most of her customers by name from the neighborhood.
While the Taharka Brothers specialty ice cream, locally crafted in Baltimore, is their specialty, Wineinger emphasized that the shop’s variety is sure to have something for everyone. “Even if you don’t like ice cream, we have tinned fish and all kinds of [other] things,” she said. “We have a little something for everyone.”
Lulabelle’s Sweet Shop is open Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit sweetlulabelle.com to place an online order and for more information.
Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com.
