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Penn Commons, the seasonal American tavern that serves dishes like chicken burgers and chorizo nachos, is closing after five years of business next to Capital One Arena.
The restaurant announced the news in a tweet last night, adding a “BREAKING” disclaimer (because everyone’s a reporter on Twitter). The swan song for Penn Commons will come during its final brunch on Sunday, August 4, when fans can drown their tears in bottomless bloody marys ($14) that came as an option with its two-course, $19 prix fixe. All-day happy hour will run on Saturday and Sunday.
BREAKING: we will be closing up for good after brunch this Sunday, 8/4. We had a great 5 year run here in Penn Quarter! Join us this weekend for all day happy hour on Sat/Sun! Visit us here: https://t.co/CHmOhLFqwz pic.twitter.com/O8XP9r8jFI
— Penn Commons (@PennCommonsDC) July 31, 2019
With the latest closing, chef Jeff Tunks and his partners continue to the contraction of Passion Food Hospitality. The group closed Acadiana, one of the only viable options for New Orleans-style specialities in the area, after a 13-year run on New York Avenue NW on New Year’s Eve.
After Penn Commons closes, the group will be out of the Penn Quarter and Chinatown neighborhoods entirely. District Commons, which opened in Foggy Bottom in 2011, and the adjoining Burger Tap & Shake will soon be Passion Food’s last properties in D.C. proper.
The group also owns two locations seafood-focused PassionFish (Bethesda, Reston) and pan-Asian TenPenh in Tysons Quarter. Passion Food previously closed the original TenPenh in D.C. in 2011, Latin-minded Ceiba in 2014, and D.C. Coast in 2015. Fuego Cocina y Tequileria, opened by longtime Passion Food employee and budding independent restaurateur Alfredo Solis, closed in Clarendon not long after he left the company in 2016.
Another sports bar, the Greene Turtle, closed its location attached to the arena back in March. Across the street, the Daikaya Group has undisclosed plans for a new project inside the former Graffiato space next to its Daikaya and Izakaya building.
