Mount Pleasant in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The First Bodega
Village in the City
— Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 24, 2017
The 1960s saw this neighborhood develop a Latino presence, and this became its Main Street. The storefront at 3161 Mt. Pleasant Street once housed Casa Diloné , the first bodega (grocery) here. From 1962 until 1998, Casa Diloné sold products familiar to immigrants and embassy staffers from Latin America and the Caribbean who lived in the area. It was a social center for Washington's Spanish-speakers and attracted other Latino-oriented businesses.
Francisca Marrero Diloné and Félix Diloné lived above the store with their six children, who also worked there. Customers eventually moved on, but many returned for holiday lechón asado (roast suckling pig) and Puerto Rican pasteles (ground root vegetables steamed in banana leaves), hand-made by Francisca and daughter Carmen.
Washington's Latino community was still small in the 1940s when Francisca immigrated from Puerto Rico and Félix from the Dominican Republic. The late 1950s brought Cubans, followed by Central and South Americans in the 1960s and 1970s. Most of the recent arrivals fled war, economic disruptions, or other political turmoil, By the 1980s, Mount Pleasant was known for its Salvadoran community. In fact, campaigning for Salvadoran elections became a regular event here.
In 1990 Salvadoran émigrés Haydee and Mario Alas operated Trolley's Restaurant where, 20 years earlier, customers had lined up out the door for the Loop Restaurant.
In 1974 the activist, ecumenical Community of Christ church moved to 3166 Mt. Pleasant Street from Dupont Circle. Many congregants, dedicated to a simpler and more communal existence, moved here as well. The group's La Casa provided space for community activities and the Life Skills Center, founded by a church member.
Erected 2006 by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 16.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Hispanic Americans • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1962.
Location. 38° 55.838′ N, 77° 2.292′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Mount Pleasant. Marker is on Mount Pleasant Street Northwest south of Kilbourne Place Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3153 Mount Pleasant Street Northwest, Washington DC 20010, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. At Home and Abroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Mount Pleasant Street, ca. 2004 (within shouting distance of this marker); Streetcar Suburb (within shouting
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 24, 2017
Additional keywords. The First Bodega
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 24, 2017
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 24, 2017
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 380 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on March 8, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 25, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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