Columbia Heights’ Long-Running Vegan Eatery Sticky Fingers Is Getting a New Look

When Doron Petersan opened her vegan bakery and cafe in Columbia Heights in 2006, there was no Instagram — and when Petersan booked her first television appearance she wasn’t allowed to say the word “vegan.” Clearly a lot has changed, as both have exploded in popularity: there are 16.8 million #plantbased hashtags on Instagram after all. So this summer, Petersan is working on a little facelift for Sticky Fingers to bring the Columbia Heights plant-based favorite into 2018.

”We’ve been around for awhile and it’s time for a refresh. We’re looking forward,” she told Eater DC. Thanks to a 2017 Great Streets Small Business Grant, the shop will close for renovations from August 20 through 24, and then reopen on August 25 as part of phase one of the renovation via Streamline Construction.

The new look will involve light and bright colors, modern finishes and a clean, open feel, while maintaining a touch of vintage charm — and some Instagram appeal. “We’ll definitely have an Instagrammable wall,” she said.

The renovation will also help streamline back-of-house flow and organization, and show off the cafe’s savory items too. “A lot of people still think we’re just a bakery,” she said. When Sticky Fingers reopens, it will introduce a scaled-down menu with both its popular vegan sweets and all-day breakfast/brunch options (similar to Petersan’s H Street all-day breakfast hangout Fare Well), along with an expanded selection of cake designs. This fall, it will expand its hours too: as of September 10, Sticky Fingers will be open on Mondays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Sticky Fingers is still Sticky Fingers,” Petersan explained. “We’re still going to keep some of the colors, but make it a little more modern and a little more relevant.”

• Sticky Fingers [Official Site]
• Inside Fare Well, the New Diner from Sticky Fingers’ Vegan Baking Experts [EDC]
• Vegan Baker Doron Petersan’s Still Got It After 20 Years [EDC]