Now It's Ashok Bajaj Signing a Lease at the Spy Museum

Yesterday brought confirmation that Shake Shack was opening its third DC location in the International Spy Museum's Spy City Café area — not the recently vacated Zola space. So just who is going into the much larger restaurant space? Why, according to the Washington Business Journal, it's none other than restaurateur Ashok Bajaj. Yes, the man behind Rasika, Bibiana, The Bombay Club and other DC gems has apparently signed a lease on the Zola space — but he tells Tom Sietsema that he has no idea yet what he's putting into the space. Still, this will be one to watch.

Update: Here's a press release just in from the real estate developers.
Update #2: Bajaj tells Eater what types of restaurants his new concept will not be.

WASHINGTON - August 8, 2012 – Douglas Development is pleased to announce that Washington, DC restaurant icon Ashok Bajaj has leased 8,300 square feet in the Douglas Development-owned property at 800 F Street NW—The Spy Museum Building.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with having Ashok in one of our signature properties. His reputation for innovative, creative, and successful restaurants is well known,” said Douglas Development Principal, Norman Jemal, “To have him join our other retail and restaurant partners illustrates the vitality and continued importance of the F Street corridor to residents and visitors alike.”

Ashok Bajaj said, “We know Penn Quarter extremely well—our 701 was one of the first restaurants in this neighborhood. We’re delighted to be in this historic building and working Norman Jemal and the rest of the Douglas Development team.”

· Ashok Bajaj to open new restaurant in D.C. [WBJ]
· All Previous Ashok Bajaj Coverage [-EDC-]