I jinxed it!

The small business exodus from the 14th Street corridor continues: last night, Borderstan reported that Pulp, the gift and card shop with the iconic purple exterior at 1803 14th Street NW, will be closing on November 23.

Photo by Getyourshoeshined.

The store, which has been a visible fixture on the block since it opened in 2002, has had a bit of a shaky ownership situation for some time now. The store's original owner, Ron Henderson, died in 2009; Pulp's current ownership had been actively attempting to find a buyer for the shop, but has been unable to get anything in place.

The store's closure will lead to the near-decimation of what was a kitschy ground zero of sorts on the south side of the 1800 block of 14th -- with go mama go! and Garden District also having left in the last year, only Home Rule remains of what was a once-formidable home goods mini-district. (The nearby Ruff 'n Ready Furnishings shop is also relocating.)

On a wider scale, the closure comes at a fragile time for the corridor -- which, as both long-standing retail fixtures and relatively recent additions are vacating, is experiencing a real shake-up. "It's an unfortunate reality in a neighborhood that might have gotten to popular for its own good," writes U Street Girl this morning, while one commenter on the Borderstan post summarizes the frustrations of many residents.

"The day is rapidly approaching when I won’t be able to buy anything on 14th Street except a $10,000 sofa and a $100 dinner," the commenter wrote.

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