Intern Hangout Sign of the Whale Will Close This Week

A longtime dive bar fixture for D.C. college students, interns, and anyone who wants a cheap drink in Dupont Circle is calling it quits — again. Sign of the Whale, a mainstay for early 20-somethings, just posted on Instagram yesterday: “This is Sign’s last week and we’re going out with a BANG! $3 well drinks, $6 everything else.” The caption reads: “The end of an era. Join us as we party till the very end!”

Those drink specials seem like a fitting way to close Sign of the Whale, possibly for good this time. The bar at 1825 M Street NW closed in late 2017, was shortly reborn as DC Tap House, then converted back into Sign of the Whale in May 2018 by what the owners called popular demand. “People miss their ‘favorite bar,’” owner Sam Gobrail told Eater last year.

This isn’t the only switcheroo in that block lately: a short-lived cocktail and wine bar called Ella Grace slid into the loft space above Sign of the Whale earlier this year then quickly closed.

Eater reached out to Sign of the Whale about this week’s closing and will update this post if necessary. The bar clarified on social media that the closing specials are going on all week.

There’s been a spate of D.C. restaurant closing announcements this Fourth of July week: news broke this week about closures for burger bar BGR in Dupont Circle and British-inspired Penn Quarter restaurant Scotts Restaurant and Bar, while Shaw mainstay Dino’s Grotto announced it will close later this year.

• “The end of an era. Join us as we party till the very end!” [PoPville]
• Resurrected Dive Bar Sign of the Whale Reopens Today [EDC]
• Everything You (Probably Didn’t) Need to Know About Those Free Sign of the Whale Happy Hours [EDC]
• Sign of the Whale [Official Site]