Then & Now on H Street NE: 5 Historic Buildings That Still Speak
Washington, D.C.'s H Street NE is a corridor that holds memory in its walls. For decades, it has been a center of community life, home to family-run businesses, movie theaters, beauty salons, and neighborhood landmarks.
Some of the buildings that shaped H Street's past are gone. But many remain, repurposed, restored, or quietly standing through it all. Today, we explore five historic buildings along H Street NE and how they've transformed while continuing to shape the neighborhood’s cultural fabric.
Whether you're walking past them on your way to a concert or grabbing a sandwich nearby, these buildings still carry weight.
1. Atlas Theater | Now: Atlas Performing Arts Center
Location: 1333 H Street NE
The Atlas Theater opened in 1938 as a single-screen movie house. It was part of H Street’s once-thriving commercial district, where several theaters anchored local culture. After the unrest of 1968 and years of neighborhood disinvestment, the Atlas closed its doors and sat vacant for decades.
In 2006, the building was transformed into the Atlas Performing Arts Center, a nonprofit space dedicated to theater, music, dance, and community arts. The building’s original art deco features were preserved, and its new life as a cultural hub continues to honor its history of gathering people through performance.
Then: Neighborhood movie theater built in 1938
Now: Nonprofit performing arts center with four venues and deep community roots
2. Suburban Trust Bank | Now: Maketto
Location: 1351 H Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
This modern structure originally served as a branch of Suburban Trust Bank, one of several small banks operating across Northeast D.C. during the mid-20th century. After standing empty for years, the building was renovated and reopened in 2015 as Maketto, a hybrid food and retail space led by chef Erik Bruner-Yang.
Maketto combines Cambodian and Taiwanese cuisine, local fashion brands, a coffee bar, and shared community space. It's a leading example of adaptive reuse architecture in Washington D.C., and it has maintained much of the original structure while reimagining its interior.
Then: Neighborhood bank
Now: Innovative dining and retail concept rooted in community
3. Louis Thomas Salon | Now: Rock & Roll Hotel (Now Closed)
Location: 1353 H Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
This address was once home to Louis Thomas Salon, a Black-owned barbershop and beauty business that operated for decades along H Street NE. These kinds of salons were more than service providers, they were essential neighborhood spaces where culture and conversation thrived.
In 2006, the building was converted into the Rock & Roll Hotel, a live music venue that played a major role in H Street's nightlife resurgence. It hosted national acts, rooftop events, and local musicians for over a decade before closing permanently in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the building stands vacant, but it remains a part of the corridor’s layered legacy.
Then: Black-owned neighborhood salon
Now: Closed music venue that helped define modern H Street culture
4. Murray’s Steaks | Now: Whole Foods + The Apollo
Location: 600 H Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
For decades, Murray’s Steaks was a discount grocery chain well-known across D.C., particularly in working-class neighborhoods. Its H Street location was a staple for affordable frozen foods and essentials. It closed in the early 2010s, and the original building was demolished.
Today, the address is home to The Apollo, a luxury apartment complex developed by Insight Property Group. The ground floor features a Whole Foods Market, while the upper floors include high-end residential units and coworking spaces.
While this space now reflects modern redevelopment, it also stands as a symbol of D.C.’s changing identity and rising cost of living.
Then: Discount grocer for everyday shopping
Now: Whole Foods and upscale residential complex
5. A. Litteri | Now: Still A. Litteri
Location: 517 Morse St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
While technically off H Street, A. Litteri is part of the Union Market district and has served the neighborhood since 1932. It was founded by an Italian immigrant family and has continuously operated as a specialty grocer known for its subs, imported wine, and old-school deli.
Unlike many businesses around it, A. Litteri hasn’t rebranded or remodeled for trends. It's one of the few legacy businesses in Northeast D.C. still owned by the same family and operating out of its original building.
Then: Italian-American grocery for immigrant families
Now: A rare piece of living history in the Union Market area
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some historic buildings on H Street NE?
Historic sites include the Atlas Theater (now Atlas Performing Arts Center), a former Suburban Trust Bank (now Maketto), and the long-standing Italian grocer A. Litteri near Union Market.
Are there preserved buildings along H Street NE?
Yes. While some buildings like The Apollo replaced older commercial sites, others like the Atlas Theater and A. Litteri have retained their historic structure and community significance.
What is the history of H Street NE in Washington, D.C.?
H Street NE was once a thriving corridor of theaters, retail, and Black-owned businesses. The 1968 riots led to decades of disinvestment, but it has since experienced significant redevelopment while retaining some of its architectural and cultural landmarks.
H Street NE continues to evolve, but these five buildings offer a way to understand where it’s been. Some are nearly unrecognizable. Others still look the same. But all of them reflect Washington’s layered history of resilience, reinvention, and community.
Knowing the stories behind the buildings helps us see the neighborhood with new eyes. Because on H Street, the past is never too far behind.
-Oluseyi OlugBuyi
