Turnover at Strawberry Village fuels debate over rents, future

A directional sign at Strawberry Village lists several businesses expected to open at the shopping center, including Cholita Linda, Club Pilates and Hydration Room. (Tyler Callister / The Ark)

Empty storefronts and reports of doubled rents have some residents calling Strawberry Village a “ghost town.” But Edens, the Washington, D.C.-based real-estate developer that bought the shopping center in 2022, says the property is performing well — and seven new businesses are set to open there this year.

In Nextdoor posts, residents have noted many recent departures of beloved shops and restaurants — Bella boutique earlier this year, Woodlands Pet Food & Treats and Spanish Table in 2025, Pizza Antica in 2023 — along with “for lease” signs in a handful of storefronts. Several current and former tenants have claimed that rents have significantly increased since Edens took over.

Rob Hansen, president and owner of Woodlands Pet Food & Treats, said the shop’s relocation to The Cove shopping center was driven by both finances and a directive from Edens to vacate its longtime space to make way for Barry’s Bootcamp, a Los Angeles-based fitness chain.

“I don’t think Edens has much of a choice but to continue pushing out all the wonderful local tenants by drastically increasing their rent, while at the same time courting large national brands who have private equity money to spend on rent that is doubled or more,” he said.

But despite notable turnover and delays opening new restaurants, Edens says the future looks bright. According to Alexander Ragonese, Edens’ senior vice president of investment and development, long-anticipated eateries Tartine Bakery and Cholita Linda are still on track to open this spring. Newly announced wellness retailers Hydration Room and Club Pilates will also open in the spring, along with sweetshop LuLu Dae’s in the space once occupied by Woody’s Yogurt, a 20-year tenant that closed in 2020 citing rent increases under the previous landlord. Ragonese said Edens also has two more unannounced retailers on board — one in wellness, the other in interior design.

Of Strawberry Village’s 55 leasable spaces, five are currently vacant. After the new openings, three will remain: the spaces once occupied by Pizza Antica, Spanish Table and Mike’s Camera, a five-decade tenant that closed in 2023 after failed lease negotiations.

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