U Street Corridor (Washington, D.C.)

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The center of Washington's African-American nightlife for much of the 20th century and the birthplace of Duke Ellington, is a vibrant collection of shops, restaurants, nightclubs and galleries.

U Street is a major nightlife center in the jazz era and again today, after a 30-year hiatus prompted by the massive 1968 riots in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., especially along 14th Street stretching from the White House north to the neighborhood of Columbia Heights.

Subway construction, which involved additional demolition and excavation, caused the U Steet area to be known as a haven for drugs and prostitutes, and only a few of the original black-owned businesses in the U Street corridor survived, or were later re-opened.

These include Ben's Chili Bowl, Bohemian Caverns, Republic Gardens, Lincoln Theater, and Howard Theater.

After the U Street Metro (subway) station opened between 10th and 13th streets, new businesses began to open up in the early 90's, especially edgier white-owned establishments oriented toward the "grunge" or punk subculture. Most were subsequently displaced by additional gentrification. Surviving music clubs from this period include the Black Cat and the 9:30 Club.

Duke Ellington's birthplace and his boyhood home (recently demolished) are located nearby, and the U Street neighborhood is known for its Duke Ellington mural on the side of the True Reformer building.