Slate Wine Bar Taking Over the Kitchen 2404 Space

Later this summer, Slate Wine Bar will be opening in Glover Park's Kitchen 2404 space. A rep for Kitchen's restaurant group Latin Concepts confirms the restaurant closed yesterday, the same day that Slate Wine Bar owner and wine director Elizabeth Banker tells Eater that she closed on the lease on the space. Banker says she plans to launch a new bar that will focus on serving "wine lovers of all levels of knowledge and experience."

So there’s some bad news for Kitchen fans. But the good news is that Slate is already in the space gearing up to reopen as soon as possible. Banker explains that the wine list will feature both Old and New World wines, emphasizing small producers with sustainable farming practices, and non-interventionalist winemaking. Along with the usual programming — daily specials, pairing advice, educational wine events, wine maker dinners, and tasting seminars — Slate Wine Bar will provide a wider range of services, extending to wine clubs, and escorted trips to wine regions. And of course, for those who are not grape lovers, the bar will include a selection of craft beers and cocktails.

Banker says the wine bar intends to maintain much of Kitchen 2404's buildout, but will be making a few cosmetic changes and replacing furniture to suit the new concept. They will also be installing machines to ensure that the wines are stored at the proper temperature.

As with most wine bars, they will serve cheese and charcuterie; there will also be a local, seasonal selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees and desserts meant to complement the wine list. No chef has been named yet.

Banker has an extensive wine background, working in winery tasting rooms. She has numerous certifications, and is working on a diploma for Master of Wine. Through that period, and over the last 10 years she has been working on developing this concept. It was in the last year that she partnered with General Manager and restaurant veteran Mark Krieger (formerly of Chef Geoff's on New Mexico Ave.) to bring their wine and food concept to life.

—Jamie Liu

· Slate Wine Bar [Official Site]