Dupont’s Original Circa Is Closing December 31

Metropolitan Hospitality Group, the parent company behind local eateries Circa, Open Road, and Trio Grill, is closing its flagship bistro (1601 Connecticut Avenue NW) on Sunday, December 31.

“We decided to exit our lease at the end of this month after 10 years in Dupont and turn our attention to our Chinatown opening in January 2018,” the company said in a prepared statement. “It is bittersweet to close our very first CIRCA location — it’s the spot that kicked-off our hospitality group’s growth.”

Additional Circa outposts, which have garnered loyal followings by serving specialty burgers, flatbread pizzas, and gourmet staples such as tuna Nicoise salads, remain in Foggy Bottom and Arlington, Virginia. The company has spent several months renovating the former Zengo space (781 Seventh Street NW) in Chinatown for what now appears to be an unveiling after the new year. MHG announced plans to plant a new Circa in Navy Yard over two years ago; that location (99 M Street SE) is now tentatively scheduled to come online by summer 2018.

MHG is also expected to add more beer-friendly Open Road restaurants in the coming year; new locations in Rosslyn and Navy Yard are projected to be up and running by the end of 2018.