One of the biggest streaming services, Netflix, is going from quiet lobbyist to high-visibility player in Washington, D.C.
According to reporting by Deadline, plans filed with the D.C. Zoning Commission reveal the streamer wants to move into a historic downtown landmark, turning roughly 14,000 square feet of former retail space into a combination of office, screening, and event space, complete with a red-carpet arrival area.
The planned location for the event space is the ground and second floors of the old Woodward & Lothrop department store building on F Street. The property has a deep local history and a significant footprint in the city’s revitalized downtown core. The project, submitted by the site’s owner, Douglas Development, marks a strategic upgrade for Netflix, signaling that the company wants to be more than just a name on a door in the capital.
More Than Just Office Space
Netflix already maintains a lobbying shop in D.C., like most major studios and streamers. But until now, it’s been just that, an office, currently located in a modest Pennsylvania Avenue space a few blocks from the White House.
This new proposal is a different beast entirely.
According to the zoning application, the first floor would be reimagined to include:
- A screening lounge for premieres and private viewings
- A reception and “red carpet” area for special events
- Co-working and open-plan offices
- Display windows and semi-public interaction zones
The second floor would house primary workspaces, while the first would serve as a highly branded, semi-public interface, the kind of place that can host a film premiere one night and a Capitol Hill policy roundtable the next.
Why It Matters
At first glance, this might look like a basic real estate upgrade. It’s not.
Netflix is planting a flag in the middle of D.C.’s power corridor, and in a media ecosystem shedding historic spaces (RIP Newseum, E Street Cinema, and, most recently, the White House Theater), the streamer is stepping in with a premium venue of its own. The location at 1025 F Street puts the company in the middle of downtown’s rebounding commercial district and just blocks from the Motion Picture Association’s I Street headquarters.
And it’s timed perfectly.
The East Wing, including the White House Family Theater, was just demolished by the Trump administration to make way for a controversial $300 million ballroom project. With that screening space gone, the city has fewer high-end, secure venues to host private viewings for lawmakers, press, and power brokers.
Netflix clearly sees an opportunity, and they’re taking it.
Local Impact: From Vacancy to Visibility
The application from Douglas Development pitches the project as a shot in the arm for a still-recovering downtown:
“This investment is an affirmation that the District’s efforts in Downtown are working and more could follow.”
And they’re not wrong. The former retail space has sat empty for years. Turning it into a high-traffic, culture-focused hub, even if not fully open to the public, represents a big upgrade for a corner of downtown that’s been struggling post-COVID.
Zoning officials still have to approve a modification to allow for office and entertainment use instead of retail. But given the alternatives, more vacant space, or another generic office, this one’s got momentum.
A New Kind of Hollywood Power Base
Netflix, like every major entertainment company, is fighting on multiple fronts: AI regulation, copyright policy, antitrust pressure, tax credits, FCC rules, and more. Having a polished, multi-use space in D.C. allows them to do what studios have done for decades in L.A. and New York: host, influence, charm, and persuade.
And while the space won’t be open to the general public, the plans specifically mention opportunities for “more extensive interaction with the public realm, particularly during screenings or other similar events.” Translation: Hill staffers, think tank heads, regulators, and influencers will more than likely be invited to red carpet events, all within walking distance of the Capitol.
Meanwhile, in the Background…
The timing is interesting.
Netflix's lease on its current office space expires in November. At the same time, it’s facing growing scrutiny from both political parties over labor practices, content moderation, and its growing global footprint. It’s also adapting to a streaming market where growth has slowed and competition is cutthroat.
The company declined to comment on the new space, but insiders say this move has been in the works for months. It also reflects a wider pattern of media companies investing in more experiential, branded spaces as traditional ad dollars and audience loyalty waver.
They’re not just selling content anymore, but also moving into the business of selling influence.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t Netflix getting into real estate. This is Netflix doubling down on Washington. As other media giants tighten their belts and shed physical space, Netflix is going the other direction, locking in high-profile square footage in one of the most politically loaded real estate markets in the country.
A long-empty retail shell may become the most strategic red carpet in D.C.
