Offering everything from shopping to dining to haircuts, social club and innovative space Manifest 002, which opened Sept. 30, has something for everyone.
Located at 1242 Third Street NE in NoMa, right by the popular Union Market, Manifest 002 aims to bring together the Washington community and display its rich culture through a new, multifaceted approach to Washington social areas. .
Manifest 002’s sibling space, Manifest 001, opened in Adams Morgan in 2021, featuring a barbershop and speakeasy. Manifest 002, the newest edition to the Manifest family, offers unique shopping and dining experiences, including a coffee shop, in addition to barbershops and bars.
One way co-founder and CEO K.J. Hughes and his business partners pursue this mission is through Manifest 002’s new restaurant, (h)ours. Its menu, influenced by Washington’s rich food culture, is curated by three-time James Beard nominee chef Erik Bruner-Yang.
Restaurant dishes include chicken and dumplings with wontons in a gumbo and sweet potato sauce that pays homage to Caribbean blood sausage and white bolognese inspired by Ethiopian spaghetti with ground beef, berbere and cheese sauce. Baked oysters Rockefeller with collared greens pays homage to Maryland and celebrates African American heritage.
Other menu highlights include whole fried lobster with celery and aioli, oysters with kiwi mignonette and chocolate cake with miso caramel.
In addition to the vibrant food, visitors can explore Manifest 002’s other amenities.
For shopping, people can peruse the fashion for sale at the boutique, browse brands from Hoka to MM6 and styles from formal to streetwear, or get a haircut at the barbershop, which serves to connect people to the community.
For those interested in regular attendance, Manifest offers a monthly membership program with many perks that vary based on membership level. Some perks include food and drink credits, priority reservations and discounts. However, membership is not needed to visit the restaurant, cafe, boutique and barbershop; they are open to the public. One reviewer on Manifest’s website calls it a “a must visit for DC.” It has also gained the approval of Michelle Obama, who recorded a podcast episode there.
Hughes hopes that Manifest illuminates Washington’s vibrance outside of politics. He says that Manifest is a place where “we want to make you feel nourished,” literally and culturally.
