Survivability Rankings for Dessert Shop in Washington DC

StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Washington DC to open a Dessert Shop, from Burleith (79% survival) to Fairlington...

•12 min read

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: Burleith: 79% average survivability for Dessert Shop
  • Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 97 of 129 analyzed
  • City-wide average: 76% for Dessert Shops
  • Most challenging area: Fairlington/Bradlee at 69%
  • Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~9.7% more expected revenue in Burleith
  • Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Table of Contents

Summary

Burleith leads Washington DC's 2026 survivability rankings for Dessert Shop operators with 79% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 83% and the most challenging locations in Burleith at 75%. The worst neighborhoods include Fairlington/Bradlee with 69% average chance. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform.


What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Washington DC to Open a Dessert Shop?

Burleith ranks #1 of 129 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Washington DC for Dessert Shop survivability, with a 79% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

RankNeighborhoodAt a good addressAverage LocationsBest LocationsChallenging Locations
1Burleith82.0%77.0% to 80.0%81.0% to 83.0%75.0% to 77.0%
2Georgetown81.7%77.0% to 81.0%82.0% to 84.0%73.0% to 75.0%
3Foxhall81.0%77.0% to 80.0%81.0% to 83.0%76.0% to 78.0%
4Trinidad80.7%77.0% to 80.0%80.0% to 82.0%76.0% to 78.0%
5Downtown80.5%76.0% to 80.0%81.0% to 83.0%72.0% to 74.0%
6North Rosslyn80.4%77.0% to 81.0%80.0% to 82.0%77.0% to 79.0%
7Foxcroft Heights80.3%77.0% to 81.0%80.0% to 82.0%77.0% to 79.0%
8Lyon Park80.1%76.0% to 80.0%80.0% to 82.0%73.0% to 75.0%
9West End80.0%76.0% to 80.0%80.0% to 81.0%73.0% to 75.0%
10Waycroft-Woodlawn80.0%76.0% to 80.0%80.0% to 82.0%74.0% to 76.0%

Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations. Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.

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 Dessert Shop Make the Most Money?

In Burleith, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~9.7% 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 ~19.5% less than the average location in the city.

Choosing the right address is the highest-leverage decision for any brick-and-mortar entrepreneur. Opening a Dessert Shop in Washington DC requires careful location choice. Across 129 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Dessert Shop is 76% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. Consumer spending patterns differ dramatically across business types and micro-locations.


What Should I Consider When Opening a Dessert Shop in or Around Washington DC?

When selecting a location for a Dessert 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. StreetSpring measures competition through a 30-factor framework. Moderate competition often indicates a healthy market with proven consumer demand. These results are powered by exclusive algorithms trained on one of the largest commercial real estate datasets in the U.S. 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. Real-time data from StreetSpring accounts for recent openings, closures, and seasonal shifts that static rankings cannot.


Where in or Around Washington DC Should I Start a Dessert Shop?

The highest-performing areas for this business type are Burleith, Georgetown, and Foxhall, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Fairlington/Bradlee, King Street Metro/Eisenhower Avenue, and North Potomac Yard. However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.

Related Articles:


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Washington DC to Open a Dessert Shop?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Dessert Shop in Washington DC is Burleith with 79% average survivability, followed by Georgetown and Foxhall. 97 of 129 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.

The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.


Can a Dessert 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. For the most current predictions, visit StreetSpring to analyze your specific location in real-time. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.


How Often Are Dessert 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 Dessert Shop a Good Tenant for Washington DC Landlords?

In Burleith, StreetSpring forecasts a 77.0% to 80.0% average chance for a new Dessert 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 Dessert Shop in Washington DC

The data tells a clear story for Dessert Shop tenants across Washington DC's top neighborhoods. Burleith leads with 77.0% to 80.0% average survivability, with best-case storefronts reaching 81.0% to 83.0%. Georgetown averages 77.0% to 81.0%, and Foxhall comes in at 77.0% to 80.0%. See which business types are most likely to succeed at your property address right now.

StreetSpring delivers pinpoint accuracy down to the exact storefront location.

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.


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.