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It was an exciting year for restaurant debuts, but there were also plenty of shutters to make way for new development. Eater has counted at least 104 restaurant closings in the area this year (this includes major players, single location closures and small chains entirely exiting the area), and there likely were even more.
Find a story stream of all 2015's closure news here. Is something missing? If so, send a note to dc@eater.com.
Readers' Saddest Closures
Eater asked readers to vote for the saddest closure of the year. (A note: CakeLove, Monroe's Restaurant and Hello Cupcake's departures had not yet been announced when the poll ran.) Here are the places they're most sad to see go:
1. Willow: Tracy O'Grady's cozy Ballston neighborhood restaurant announced its closure back in September. The restaurant was known for its great pastries and its ambitious, often vegetarian-friendly cooking.
Willow [Photo: Official]
2. Stetson's: This no-frills bar was one of the pioneers in the U Street neighborhood. It shuttered at the end of October.
Stetson's [Photo: Official]
3. Chef Geoff's downtown (pending): It was a double whammy for Chef Geoff's closures: the Rockville location closed in late fall, and the last day of business for the downtown location is New Year's Eve. The building is being redeveloped, so downtown diners will have to find a new source for cheap happy hours, great burgers and convenient pre-theater dining.
Chef Geoff's [Photo: Official]
4. Chief Ike's Mambo Room: March brought last call for this Adams Morgan institution. The divey bar had changed over the years and most recently was beloved for its comedy nights.
Chief Ike's [Photo: Official]
5. Gypsy Soul: R.J. Cooper's ambitious but struggling Mosaic District restaurant shuttered in August. The chef then revealed in December he'd be leaving D.C. for North Carolina.
Other NOTABLE DEPARTURES
Meskerem — One of the city's oldest Ethiopian restaurants closed in April
Jay's Saloon — Arlington loses a beloved dive bar to redevelopment
CakeLove — The bakery that arguably kicked off the cupcake craze in D.C. years ago closed its original (and final) location in December
McFadden's — Really only beloved by college kids, this bar's closure caused an uproar from GW students
DC Coast — A pioneer on K Street, this longtime source for D.C. power lunches will say goodbye New Year's Eve
DC Coast's partners [Official]
most-read shutter story of 2015
Readers just kept clicking on the closing chapter of the story of Piratz Tavern. The oddball pirate-themed bar became famous during a drama-filled episode of "Bar Rescue" years ago.
Additional Closures
100 Montaditos (multiple)
7 Stars Deli
Aggio
Artfully Chocolate Alexandria
Bandolero
Bardia’s New Orleans Cafe
Benny’s Bar and Grill
UPDATE: Bethesda Barbecue Company
Bistro La Bonne
Black And Orange
Bonsai Grill
Brasserie Monte Carlo
Bread and Brew
Bungalow Sports Grill Shirlington
Cafe Deluxe Gaithersburg
Cafe Phillips Downtown
Caribbean Citations
Casa Oaxaca
Chef Geoff's Rockville
Chicken Out
Crumbs & Coffee
DCity Smokehouse (original)
Dahlak
Da Marco
Den of Thieves
Diego Restaurant
Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar
Eatonville
Faryab
Fisnhnet Shaw
Fishnet [Photo: Official]
Flying Fish Alexandria
Frozen Yogurt Indulgence
Gaithersburg Silver Diner
Hans Pedr Kaffe
Hard Times Cafe Bethesda
Hello Cupcake
Henry’s Soul Cafe
Indulj
Kite Runner Cafe
La Tagliatella Arlington
Largent’s
Li Ho Food
Lime Fresh (multiple)
Long John Silvers Falls Church
Mad Momos
McKeevers Irish Pub
UPDATE: Mio Restaurant (pending)
Modern Times Coffee House (in Politics & Prose)
Monroe’s Restaurant
UPDATE: Mothership
UPDATE: Murasaki Tenleytown
Native Foods (multiple)
Nature’s Table
No 82 Steakout
Noelia
Noelia [Photo: R. Lopez]
UPDATE: Noodles and Co. (multiple locations)
Nurish
Olea
Oya
Parker’s
Pasta Italiana
Patty Boom Boom
Pharmacy Bar
Pizza Parts & Service
Pizza Pass
Pizza Vinoteca
Potomac Grill
Pound the Hill
RedRocks Arlington
Reserve 2216
Rhino Bar
Ri Ra Clarendon
Rosa Mexicano Friendship Heights
Seasonal Pantry (market)
Shawarma Spot
South China Alexandria
Steamers Seafood
TD Burger Largo
TJ’s Deli
Tai Shan
Tara Thai Bethesda
Ted’s 365
Tel’Veh
The Islander
Ulah Bistro
Uptown Tap House
Vapiano Ballston
Which Wich
Zest Bistro
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