Survivability Rankings for Coffee Shop in Washington DC
StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Washington DC to open a Coffee Shop, from Tara-Leeway Heights (79% survival) to F...
By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: September 2026 | Methodology
Quick Summary
- Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
- #1 Neighborhood: Tara-Leeway Heights: 79% average survivability for Coffee Shop
- Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 128 of 129 analyzed
- City-wide average: 77% for Coffee Shops
- Most challenging area: Fairlington/Bradlee at 73%
- Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~5.7% more expected revenue in Tara-Leeway Heights
- Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →
Table of Contents
- Summary
- 10 Best Neighborhoods
- Where Would a Coffee Shop Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can a Coffee Shop Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is a Coffee Shop a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
Of all the neighborhoods in and around Washington DC, Tara-Leeway Heights ranks #1 for opening a Coffee Shop with 79% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 81% and the most challenging locations in Tara-Leeway Heights at 75%. The worst neighborhoods include Fairlington/Bradlee with 73% average chance. A low-ranking neighborhood can still contain high-potential storefronts: the address matters most.
What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Washington DC to Open a Coffee Shop?
Tara-Leeway Heights ranks #1 of 129 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Washington DC for Coffee Shop survivability, with a 79% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:
| Rank | Neighborhood | At a good address | Average Locations | Best Locations | Challenging Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tara-Leeway Heights | 80.4% | 76.0% to 81.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 75.0% to 76.0% |
| 2 | Judiciary Square | 80.3% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 77.0% to 79.0% |
| 3 | Penn Quarter | 80.1% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 76.0% to 78.0% |
| 4 | High View Park | 79.9% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 74.0% to 75.0% |
| 5 | Aurora Highlands | 79.8% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 75.0% to 76.0% |
| 6 | Foggy Bottom | 79.7% | 76.0% to 81.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 73.0% to 75.0% |
| 7 | American University Park | 79.6% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 74.0% to 76.0% |
| 8 | Brightwood Park | 79.6% | 75.0% to 80.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 75.0% to 76.0% |
| 9 | Ivy City | 79.6% | 75.0% to 79.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 74.0% to 75.0% |
| 10 | Downtown | 79.5% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 73.0% to 75.0% |
A low-ranking neighborhood can still contain high-potential storefronts: the address matters most. The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.
Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. See our full methodology →
Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.
Where in or Around Washington DC Would a Coffee Shop Make the Most Money?
In Tara-Leeway Heights, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~5.7% more than the average location in or around Washington DC.
On the other hand, in Fairlington/Bradlee, the worst possible location could result in making ~9.4% less than the average location in the city.
Our data consistently shows that location accounts for more variance in outcomes than any other single factor. Opening a Coffee Shop in Washington DC requires careful location choice. Across 129 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Coffee Shop is 77% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. What makes a location ideal varies by business type: foot traffic patterns, competitor proximity, and consumer demographics all play different roles.
What Should I Consider When Opening a Coffee Shop in or Around Washington DC?
When selecting a location for a Coffee Shop in or around Washington DC, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. Revenue Capture Score is the single best indicator of whether a business will thrive at a location. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. Our models are built using machine learning trained on millions of commercial real estate data points. Some of the best-performing locations are surrounded by complementary competitors that drive foot traffic. Every score is produced by our in-house models, trained on 570,000+ real business outcomes. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.
This can be summarized as:
Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business
Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Static rankings provide a useful baseline, but the live tool captures changes that have occurred since publication.
Where in or Around Washington DC Should I Start a Coffee Shop?
The highest-performing areas for this business type are Tara-Leeway Heights, Judiciary Square, and Penn Quarter, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Fairlington/Bradlee, Beauregard, and North Potomac Yard. Neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation: always check your specific address. Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.
Related Articles:
- Business Survivability Rankings: Washington DC
- Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Washington DC
- National City Survivability: Coffee Shop
- National Neighborhood Survivability: Coffee Shop
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Washington DC to Open a Coffee Shop?
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Coffee Shop in Washington DC is Tara-Leeway Heights with 79% average survivability, followed by Judiciary Square and Penn Quarter. 128 of 129 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.
For the most accurate predictions, always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform.
Can a Coffee Shop Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Washington DC?
Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Market conditions are changing daily and it is best to use StreetSpring's most up-to-date data. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.
How Often Are Coffee Shop Rankings in Washington DC Updated?
StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Washington DC.
Is a Coffee Shop a Good Tenant for Washington DC Landlords?
In Tara-Leeway Heights, StreetSpring forecasts a 76.0% to 81.0% average chance for a new Coffee Shop to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.
Landlord Survivability Data for Coffee Shop in Washington DC
If you own commercial property in Washington DC and are considering a Coffee Shop tenant, here is what the data shows: Tara-Leeway Heights properties offer the best survivability outlook (76.0% to 81.0%), Judiciary Square is strong but slightly lower (77.0% to 81.0%), and Penn Quarter rounds out the top 3 (77.0% to 81.0%). You can see the Survivability Score for your location for any business right now.
StreetSpring delivers address-level predictions, showing how likely hundreds of different businesses are to last at that exact spot.
Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around Washington DC for My Business Overall?
You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Washington DC to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Washington DC.
Related Resources
- Business Survivability Rankings: Washington DC: See how Coffee Shop compares to all other business types in Washington DC
- Best Cities to Open a Coffee Shop in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Coffee Shop
- Business Survivability in Tara-Leeway Heights, Washington DC: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Judiciary Square, Washington DC: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Penn Quarter, Washington DC: All business types ranked in the #3 neighborhood
Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Washington DC are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.
View technical data for Washington DC
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.