Shaw’s Late-Night Fried Chicken Shack Roy Boys Will Close This Month

The novel coronavirus pandemic obliterated business for many bars and restaurants that already rely on slim margins to make ends meet. Reconfiguring operations to focus on takeout and delivery proved difficult and expensive, often salvaging diminishing returns. D.C. restaurants, bars and live entertainment venues returned to full capacity about a year ago. But for some, the damage was too great to recover. Here’s a running roundup of reported closures caused by the pandemic (or other reasons).

Know of a D.C. restaurant that recently called it quits? Send the details to dc@eater.com.

---

December 2022

• Shaw’s lively, neon-lit bar Roy Boys — named one of Eater’s top fried chicken spots in America — will sling its last wing on Sunday, December 18. Located past a roll-up garage window, the four-year-old bar sends out lip-smacking pieces on silver platters and more composed options like the Drop It Like It’s Hot sandwich to its late-night 9:30 Club crowd. Rita’s Tacos — a pandemic-born pop-up camped inside — stuffs the same heat-tinged chicken into a Nashville hot taco, joined by mac and cheese and additional hot sauce. Its “Last Hoorah” is set for December 17 and 18, with ’90s jams, food, and cocktails. “Help us celebrate our accomplishments and send us off on our next chapter,” notes its closing message on Instagram. “This isn’t goodbye, just see you later.” Scott Parker, its Arlington-based owner behind millennial-fueled drinking destinations like Don Tito, is also a partner at Westpost’s new pizzeria-and-brewery Nighthawk. 2108 8th Street NW
• After more than nine years, Little Red Fox and its adjoining sweets shop Sugar Fox will close its doors on Friday, December 23. The upper Northwest neighborhood fixture packed a lot into a little space: a bakery, coffee shop, prepared foods market, grocer, and sandwich shop that made its own hot sauce, pickles, apple butter, smoked aioli, pastries, quiches, and pies. Owners Matt and Jena Carr say the cause for the closure stems from personal, not business, issues. “In order to address complicated health issues and prioritize the well being of our family, we’ve had to make the very difficult decision to close,” the owners wrote on social media. 5035 Connecticut Avenue NW

November 2022

• EatWell DC will simultaneously shut down two restaurants at once on Saturday, November 12. Downtown seafood haunt Grillfish, open since 1996, was known for its oysters, ginger calamari, crab cakes, Buffalo shrimp, mango key lime pie, and breezy patio out front. Logan Circle’s decade-old Southern comfort foods and bourbon bar The Pig is also finished. The restaurant group’s remaining D.C. portfolio includes Commissary and Logan Tavern. 1200 New Hampshire Avenue NW; 1320 14th Street NW

• Adams Morgan’s no-frills seafood shack PopSea Bar has permanently closed. The beachy pit stop for peel-n-eat shrimp, fried fish, burgers, and hot dogs drew menu inspiration from both the Jersey Shore and the Gulf Coast. PopSea Bar temporarily went dark this summer as the team worked through a licensing issue with the city. 1817 Columbia Road NW

October 2022

• Georgetown’s German beer and bratwurst slinger Berliner closed its doors on Sunday, October 23. Popal Group plans replace Berliner with a TBA venture once multi-year renovations from the building’s new owners are complete. “We are looking into a few different options for The Berliner, from finding a new space to doing some pop-ups,” says partner Omar Popal. The 4,200-square-foot warehouse space first opened in 2013 as Malmaison before flipping into the 24-tap beer hall in 2018. Popal Group also runs Georgetown’s French neo-bistro Lutèce and Afghan bistro Lapis in Adams Morgan. 3401 Water Street NW
• Van Ness’s Uptown Market, a market-meets-restaurant with a coffee bar, tapas, jazz nights, family meals, oyster happy hour, wine dinners, daily brunch, catering, and a breezy patio, will close permanently on Sunday, October 2. All of the market’s prepared foods, beer, and wine will be 25-percent off during its last day of service. Uptown Market opened just prior the pandemic in 2019. 4465 Connecticut Avenue NW
• Downtown’s quirky retail and sweets shop Chocolate Moose will close after a 44-year run. “Since 1978, we’ve made a lot of friends serving weirdly sophisticated Washingtonians,” per a closing announcement on Instagram. The L Street NW staple was known for its grab-and-go chocolate counter, prettily packaged confections, impressive collection of cookbooks, holiday-themed treats and decor, stuffed toys, and more. Swing by for a 40-percent discount on everything in the store until it’s gone. 1743 L Street NW

September 2022

• Siroc Restaurant, D.C.’s modern trattoria with front-row views of McPherson Square park, will close for good on Saturday, September 24. Chef Martin Lackovic and his brothers debuted the northern Italian-centric restaurant back in 2008 and earned a solid 9-to-5 following for homemade burrata, squid ink tagliatelle with seafood, local rockfish filet, tiramisu, and a substantial wine list. The 2,500-square-foot space with a patio, dining room, and bar is currently up for lease. An employee confirmed the closure news, adding its team is currently on the prowl for a new location. 915 15th Street NW
• Award-winning chef and sommelier Danny Lledó permanently shuttered his nearly decade-old Glover Park institution Slate Wine Bar on Thursday, September 22 to make way for a prix-fixe extension of Xiquet DL, his Michelin-rated Valencian showpiece situated upstairs. 2404 Wisconsin Avenue NW
• Nooshi, Capitol Hill’s decade-old standby for sushi, noodles, spring rolls, and cocktails, closed permanently on Sunday, September 11. The 3,000-square-foot space with a sleek rooftop is now up for lease. Nooshi’s downtown counterpart on 19th Street NW remains open. 524 8th Street SE

August 2022

• Takoma Park raw bar and American eatery Republic will close on Sunday, September 4, after a 10-year run, per a farewell message on social media. An “unforgiving” pandemic proved to be “a hardship from which we could not recover,” and the team was unable to come to terms with its landlord on a lease renegotiation. Republic showcased ingredients from local farms and the Chesapeake watershed and proved to be a popular attraction for daily happy hour and all-day Sunday brunch across a charming patio out back. Staff will be able to transfer to the restaurant group’s sibling establishments like Pearl Dive Oyster Palace and Blacksalt. 6939 Laurel Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland

• Mintwood Place, the Adams Morgan favorite for classic French fare with American twists, suddenly shut down on Sunday, August 28. Popville first spotted a closing message on the door that points to a future replacement project from the same team. The cozy, wood-framed restaurant under a red awning drew notice for its French onion soup, chicken liver parfaits with espelette pepper jam, cavatelli, bacon cheeseburgers, and mussels Provencal. The neighborhood institution debuted in 2012 to much acclaim under Cedric Maupillier (Convivial); its latest big-name chef was Le Diplomate alum Harper McClure, who joined Taco Bamba this spring. Mintwood plowed through the pandemic with a retooled focus on takeout and just participated in summer restaurant week. 1813 Columbia Road NW
• Fast-casual chain California Tortilla called it quits on Saturday, August 27, after nearly 20 years business in Cleveland Park. California Tortilla maintains three other locations in D.C. 3501 Connecticut Avenue NW
• Hummus bowl slinger Little Sesame closed in Chinatown on Thursday, August 25 as the brand shifts to a wholesale model. The homegrown chain inked a deal with Whole Foods in summer 2021 and now sells its packaged hummus at over 150 grocers up and down the East Coast, including MOM’s Organic Market and Foxtrot. Its remaining fast-casual location on L Street NW will double as its test kitchen and D.C. flagship.

• DBGB Kitchen & Bar, French celebrity chef Daniel Boulud’s sole D.C. establishment, quietly closed this week after an eight-year run in CityCenterDC. The glassy brasserie opened to much acclaim for its whole hog roasts, Baked Alaska theatrically flambeed tableside, and crab-topped burgers. Ex-executive chef Nicholas Tang bid farewell to his former workplace in a series of Instagram stories on Thursday, August 25. After a long pandemic pause, DBGB reopened late last year under the watch of Dinex Group chef Anthony DiGregorio. CityCenterDC lost another big-name chef in 2020 with the closure of David Chang’s Momofuku CCDC (now a Tatte Bakery). Meanwhile, Lyon, France-born Boulud continues to grow his NYC empire with a flashy new hotel restaurant near Wall Street. 931 H Street NW
• Cortez, Shaw’s Baja-styled destination for tacos, tequila, and airy rooftop vibes since 2018, permanently closed this month. Better Hospitality Group owner Ryan Seelbach tells Eater he sold two-story Cortez to Ethiopian-born Samuel Tesfaye, who plans to soon flip the color-soaked space into his first stateside restaurant called Broz Dynasty. 1905 Ninth Street NW
• Korean American darling Magpie and the Tiger did not pan out in Petworth and will serve its last small plate on Sunday, August 21, per a closure announcement on Thursday, August 11. The cozy, 22-seat dining room, which debuted in February after weeks of offering takeout only, came from husband-wife duo Caleb Jang and Roren Choi with help from chef Kevin Tien. The cause for the closure stemmed from rising costs, staffing, and permitting hurdles for a patio, Tien tells Washingtonian. The playful restaurant explored Jang’s Korean roots in the storied Petworth space that once housed former Eater D.C. Restaurant of the Year Himitsu, where Tien helmed the kitchen and Jang played a supporting role. Jang’s debut restaurant featured a pocket-sized menu with just 11 food items, such as crispy, cheesy Korean potato salad, and three drinks, like a sweetened rice punch with malted barley. Jang and Choi hint at some “new and exciting projects” in the future. 828 Upshur Street NW
• DMV-wide pickle and fermented foods pioneer Number 1 Sons will close this month after a decade in business. The last day to purchase its pickles, kimchi, and kraut at local farmers’ markets is Monday, August 29. Owners Yi Wah and Caitlin Roberts, who pivoted during the pandemic with delivery and small businesses collaborations, were “unable to continue to operate in their current space,” per a farewell announcement on its website.
• Newland, Capitol Hill’s ambitious New American restaurant from the team behind Beuchert’s Saloon, served its last prix-fixe meal after just five months in business in the former home of French bistro Montmartre. Chef Andrew Markert celebrated his Mid-Atlantic upbringing across $80 tasting menus featuring charred scallops with crab fat powder, crispy pata with kumquat ragu and peppercorn jus, and dry-aged koji strip steak with beet bordelaise. “We set out to serve food and drinks that pushed our creativity and innovation to the next level, all while having a damn good time ... while this isn’t how we envisioned Newland’s story unfolding, we did just that,” per an Instagram post announcing its closure on Tuesday, August 9. Capitol Hill pub Beuchert’s Saloon and lively sandwich sibling Fight Club remain open as usual. 327 Seventh Street SE

• Rappahannock Oyster Bar, one of the opening stalls at Northeast’s decade-old food hall, will suddenly close this week. “Union Market didn’t even allow us the opportunity to renew the lease and sent us an eviction letter,” an employee told Eater by phone on Monday, August 8, adding, “I think they will regret it eventually.” Eater reached out to landlord Edens for comment. Along with its shucked Virginia bivalves, the popular U-shaped seafood bar sent out shrimp po’boys, grilled oysters, mussels, steamed shrimp, crab cakes, fried oyster tacos, draft beers, and cocktails. Rappahannock’s last day will be on or before Saturday, August 13, adds the employee, and affected staff will shift to its standalone Southwest Waterfront outpost at the Wharf. Chesapeake Bay-centric Rappahannock Oyster Co. maintains a coast-to-coast portfolio with restaurants in downtown LA, Charleston, South Carolina, and Virginia. 1309 5th Street NE

July 2022

• Big Sky Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, Adams Morgan's breezy, three-story ode to America’s great outdoors, has closed after just under a year. The short-lived replacement to Mellow Mushroom revived and refreshed one of the nicest rooftops above the late-night strip with a menu full of wagyu smash burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, kale salads, and tacos. Booze included Red Bull-fueled frose, double espresso martinis, a slushy “Dole-Whip” colada spiked with coconut rum, and a playful (and rare) a la carte brunch item: $50 for a straight stream of mimosas. Curt Large of Pioneer Ventures still runs Roofers Union nearby, along with Bedrock Billiards, Continental, Carpool, and Rocket Bar. (2436 18th Street NW)
• After an eight-year run, Boston-based celebrity chef Michael Schlow pulled the plug on Latin standby Tico on Saturday, July 30, to make way for a stylish new Japanese restaurant led by Morimoto alum. The brightly-colored Schlow space will undergo a fast interior makeover this month and resurface some time in September as Nama Ko. (1926 14th Street NW)
• Boardwalk Bar & Eatery, Penn Quarter's lively, two-level attraction for happy hour, hot dogs, Skee-ball, and arcade games since 2019, quietly closed last month. A twice-as-large Boardwalk debuted at the Wharf earlier this year. Better Hospitality Group also operates Shaw rooftop staples Cortez and Takoda, which recently added a sophomore outpost in Navy Yard. (507 Seventh Street NW)
• Pie chain &pizza closed its downtown location, per a sign spotted by Popville. (1400 K Street NW)
• Award-winning and pioneering Filipino restaurant Bad Saint served its last meal on Saturday, July 9, marking the end of a nearly seven-year era in Columbia Heights. The tiny, 24-seat dining room generated long lines and national acclaim for impeccably roasted pork lechon and sweet potato ukoy fritters under the watch of chef Tom Cunanan, who earned the James Beard award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2019 (and parted ways in 2020). The owners circulated news of the sudden closure via email and an Instagram post on Monday, July 11:

• After nearly a decade in business, D.C. beer pioneer 3 Stars Brewing Company abruptly closed for unknown reasons on Sunday, July 10. Founders Dave Coleman and Mike McGarvey, who started 3 Stars off a home-brewing kit and shoestring budget, ballooned the brand with a recognizable skull logo to an impressive 200-plus options like a top-selling Peppercorn Saison ale. Wholesale operations will continue for a little longer, so fans should stock up on the last six-packs remaining on local retail shelves. Along with tastings and tours, the versatile Takoma brewery hosted food trucks, live music, scooter clubs, cigar-and-sip nights, and weddings. (6400 Chillum Place NW)
• Green Hat will close its Ivy City distillery, tap room, and gin garden on Saturday, July 16. New Columbia Distillers (now Green Hat) helped kick off D.C.’s distillery boom in 2011. Its popular gin that’s distilled with botanicals in copper pot stills is currently poured at 80 bars across D.C. Green Hat gin will continue to be widely available in stores and online in D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, as well as nationwide. Spirits company MGP, which bought Green Hat prior to the pandemic, will pick up the production slack going forward at its Kansas distillery. The last time Ivy City lost a major distillery was in 2020 when Jos. A. Magnus & Co. packed up and moved to Michigan. (1832 Fenwick Street NE)
• Just six months after bringing local beer-and-shot combos, margaritas, and hefty brisket burgers to Columbia Heights, blue-toned sports bar The Bull Bar & Grill will close at the end of July. Latin restaurateur Aldo Cruz maintains a fan base on the 14th Street NW strip at Toro Bar, a popular pool hall he debuted during the dawn of the pandemic. (4628 14th Street NW)

Miguel Prado/The Bull

June 2022

• Acacia Food & Wine, the pasta and seafood-heavy stalwart in Van Ness since 2009, will close at the end of the month due to a spike in rent (4340 Connecticut Avenue NW). The family-owned wine bar offers 60-plus options by the glass to go along with a variety of cured meats and cheeses, burgers, gluten-free options, and desserts. “I have put my heart and soul into this restaurant and tried my absolute best to keep Acacia running for all of you to enjoy,” per the owner’s closing announcement obtained by Popville, adding its University of the District of Columbia (UDC) landlord “has made this impossible due to their insistence more than doubling the rent.”
• Smoke & Barrel, D.C.’s essential whiskey, beer, and barbecue destination at the top of Adams Morgan’s nightlife strip since 2011, will close for good on Saturday, June 18. Along with its smoked pork and brisket, the casual mainstay was also known for its surprisingly solid vegetarian and vegan options. Lined with reclaimed wood, exposed brick, and stools made of old barrels, the bar rebooted service a year ago after taking a pandemic pause. “I am closing this chapter of my life and moving on,” owner John Andrade tells Eater on Thursday. His remaining restaurant Brookland Pint near Catholic University “continues to do well,” he reports, and he’s working on a big patio upgrade to offer year-round outdoor dining (“which I believe is critical to have moving forward in this post-pandemic climate,” he says). He encourages Smoke & Barrel regulars to swing by through Saturday to bid adieu. “I am hoping for a busy last couple of days so that my staff can walk away with a few bucks in their pockets,” he says. (2471 18th Street NW)

May 2022

• Maialino Mare, D.C.’s first full-service restaurant from Danny Meyer and his NYC-based Union Square Hospitality Group, will fold after just a two-year run in Navy Yard. The seafood-focused, Roman-style trattoria lined with checkered tablecloths will close on Sunday, June 5, as will its rooftop sister bar Anchovy Social, “due to a pending transfer of the Thompson Washington DC hotel lease” and “not related to the pandemic” per a rep. The company will help affected employees find jobs, and those looking to relocate to New York will be provided opportunities. The 225-room hotel will remain open as usual, adds the rep. The anticipated Italian venue was an outgrowth of Maialino, the 12-year-old New York City restaurant based in the Gramercy Park Hotel.

April 2022

• All of Farmbird’s fast-casual stores — two in D.C. and one in Arlington — suddenly closed for good. “Unfortunately, the pandemic’s many challenges simply proved insurmountable to our business,” said the homegrown company, in a statement on its website. The six-year-old chicken chain, which centered its menu around antibiotic-free poultry raised humanely on regional farms off an all-veggie diet, debuted across from Whole Foods on H Street NE in 2017. Farmbird expanded to Penn Quarter and Ballston in 2021 and had plans to open in Navy Yard this year. It’s “very sad,” co-founder Andrew Harris tells Eater in an email.
• Columbia Heights is losing a long-running coffee shop. Coffy Cafe, the ‘60s-themed cafe known for crepes and jam sessions with neighborhood jazz musicians, announced it will close its doors “in the coming weeks.” Owner Yahya Sardari is collecting handwritten letters from customers (which she calls “goodbye love letters”) in response to the news. Sardari took ownership of the cafe in 2015, and cites the challenges of the pandemic as a reason for the closure (3310 14th Street NW). Sardari is “embarking on new and completely different venture in the same space” that will be announced later this spring, per a rep.

Bethesda Bagels is shuttering its Dupont Circle location after nearly 12 years in the neighborhood. The reason is an inability to come to an agreement with the landlord on a lease extension, according to an Instagram post from the family-run bagel company. Washingtonian also reported the news. The last day to get a bagel from the shop at 1718 Connecticut Avenue NW is this Sunday, April 24 — but Bethesda Bagels will still have a presence in D.C. via its shop in Navy Yard.

March 2022

Le Grenier is saying goodbye after nearly 11 years serving straight-from-the-oven buttered baguettes, seafood stew in delicate Chablis broth, escargot, crepes, and duck pate among the brick-lined walls of an H Street row house. The beloved neighborhood French restaurant (502 H Street NE), which will close permanently on April 1, announced its the news in a Facebook and Instagram post last night, March 29. No reason was given for the closure, first reported by PoPville.com.

Little Beet Table, the upscale health-conscious cafe from New York, closed its doors in Chevy Chase (5471 Wisconsin Avenue) after a rocky few years, Bethesda Magazine reports. Little Beet Table opened in 2019, only to temporarily close in 2020 because of the pandemic. By May 2021, it reopened, but that lasted less than a year.

Tenleytown’s Bourbon Coffee (4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW) closed its doors after about six years brewing coffee on Wisconsin Avenue, Prince of Petworth reports. The store’s website lists the Foggy Bottom location and the Tysons Corner location as still open.

February 2022

Ballston pierogi stand Rogi (4238 Wilson Boulevard) called it quits on Sunday, February 13. Chef and owner Ed Hardy cited the recent Omicron wave as being particularly tough on the business. Hardy is hoping to do some pop-ups and to get a USDA certification to sell his products in stores now that the stand is closed. [ARLnow.com]

Rogi/Facebook

Twinpanzee Brewing Co. (101 Executive Drive, Suite D, Sterling) has closed the taps at its Sterling brewery after nearly five years. The owners hope to return at some point in the future, but there are no plans right now. [The Burn]

The ovens have gone cold at Pie Sisters, the 11-year old Georgetown pie shop (3423 M Street NW) known for pies in both sweet (banana cream to bourbon chocolate) and savory flavors (chicken pot pie, tomato pie, and more). The beloved bakery closed permanently on February 20 with a note posted on its website and social media accounts: “Although this has not been an easy decision, due to many different factors, we have decided to close the store to put our time and efforts into pursuing new endeavors and growing our families.” Owners Alli, Bear and Cat Blakely added that they plan to continue the Pie Sisters brand, but they haven’t released any details.

Ballston’s Market Place & Cafe (901 North Glebe Road), known more salads, sandwiches, and a phallic logo, is calling it quits. Over the years, the bold logo (that only vaguely resembled the chef hat, nose, and mustache it was meant to resemble) made headlines from ARLnow.com to Grub Street. The choicest comments came from some witty yelp reviewers, one of whom called it Dong Deli. Despite the logo (or because of it), the cafe had a pretty decent run, lasting over a dozen years. [ARLnow.com]

El Chalan restaurant (1924 I Street, NW), which claims to be the metro area’s “first authentic Peruvian restaurant,” is closing its doors on February 12 after 41 years in business. Pedro and Elsa Espinoza opened their restaurant as a carry-out business in Arlington in 1975, just a few years after immigrating from Peru. That version of the restaurant had a menu of hot dogs, burgers, and fries during the week, with Peruvian food only hitting the menu on the weekends. By 1983, El Chalan moved into the D.C. metro area and became a full service restaurant serving only Peruvian food. It’s D.C.’s longest-running Peruvian restaurant.

Vienna’s El Sol, the Mexican restaurant that opened its doors in February 2020 just a month before the pandemic closed restaurants across the state, has called it quits in the Cedar Park Shopping Center. Citing pandemic-related challenges like staffing shortages, brother-sister team Alfredo and Jessica Solis say they will focus on their other restaurants: El Sol D.C., Mezcalero (with locations in D.C. and Alexandria) and Anafre on 14th Street in D.C. [Tysons Reporter]

Selam, the subterranean Eritrean restaurant known to buzz with DJs spinning beats, has closed its doors at 1524 U Street, NW, and the space is now for lease, reports PoPville.com.

January 2022

Rockville’s Peruvian darling, La Limeña, has ended its 15-year run at Ritchie Center, according the the Store Reporter. Spokesperson Rodolfo Elmore said that the pandemic “changed everything” and it was no longer affordable to stay open. Owner Emma Perez will focus on La Limeña Grill, the larger and newer sister restaurant serving some of the same dishes.

Darlington House, the multi-level dining, drinking, and event space nestled in a historic 1890s row house in tony Dupont Circle, has called it quits and the space is up for lease. Encompassing both an Italian restaurant specializing in pasta and a subterranean bar with a rock and roll theme, the Darlington House opened in 2008 and shuttered about a year ago.

Tierney Plumb

Viet Chopsticks has closed its Lansdowne Town Center outlet after its 10-year lease came to an end. The Vietnamese cafe, known for steaming bowls of pho and fresh spring rolls, still has locations in Woodbridge, Virginia and Washington, D.C. that remain open.

After seven years, K Street’s go-to lunch spot for casual Japanese classics and American sandwiches, Cafe Grande (1775 K Street, NW), has closed its doors, reports PoPville.com. A call to the restaurant during open hours went unanswered. [PoPville.com]

Bethesda’s acclaimed Cesco Osteria will close its doors on January 29 after 25 years serving dishes inspired by owner and chef Francesco Ricchi’s native Tuscany: caciucco, a traditional Tuscan fish stew; squid ink tagliolini; Tuscan thin crust pizza; and housemade fettuccine with wild boar sauce. Ricchi is retiring, according to a press release posted to the restaurant’s social media page.

After just two years in Ivy City, “family social club” The Lane will close on Sunday, February 13. In addition to play structures like a slide and ball pit, The Lane was equipped with a café and bar serving quiche, egg sandwiches, smoothies, wine, and beer from local makers. Co-founder Rachel Lubin started a GoFundMe page to help the team.

D.C.’s acclaimed Burmese restaurant Thamee closed its doors permanently on January 23. Thamee grew out of tiny falooda stall Toli Moli and evolved into a full-service restaurant with national acclaim. Since opening in May 2019, Thamee won numerous awards including Eater D.C.’s 2019 Restaurant of the Year and Food & Wine honored the Burmese hit as one of the 10 best new restaurants in America.

Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

After 17 years, Reston’s Hunan East Chinese restaurant will close in February. Several factors contributed to the closing and the restaurant says that it did not “use assistance to restaurants adversely affected by the shutdowns,” according to RestonNow.com.

D.C.’s go-to German and Austrian cafe served its final schnitzel on January 15, marking the end of a 41-year run. Cafe Mozart owners and Vienna, Austria natives Hildegard and Max Fehr ended up with the deli after Hildegard Fehr went shopping for sausages and ended up buying a deli on a whim. With a menu of schnitzels, potato pancakes, sauerbraten, German sausages, the cafe brought the flavors of Bavaria to H Street. The closure was announced on Facebook only one day before Cafe Mozart’s final day. No reason was given for the closure.

SteelFire Kitchen & Bar (8170 Westside Boulevard, Fulton, Maryland) turned off the burners on January 2, explaining on its Facebook page that “rising supply costs, staffing concerns, decreased hours of operations, increased minimum wage” made the them realize that they “no longer have the patience to continue down this road.”

Naan & Beyond (1025 Vermont Avenue, NW) closed its doors after more than 20 years serving quality, inexpensive Indian fast food dishes. The announcement, made with a note on the restaurant’s door, blamed the coronavirus pandemic for the closure. [PoPville.com]

After 40 years, Laurel’s Pasta Plus (209 Gorman Ave, Laurel, Maryland) is closing its doors. No reason was given for the closure, but “a week ago, the restaurant said they were closed because of staffing shortages as some of their employees were awaiting COVID-19 test results,” reports ABC7. The beloved restaurant was known for its warm hospitality and a lengthy menu that covered everything from fresh ravioli (and many, many other pasta dishes) to paninis and cold sandwiches to meats, seafood, and Italian cakes and other desserts. [ABC7]

At Baltimore’s Larder (3 West 23rd St, Baltimore), chef Helena del Pesco, an alum of famed Chez Panisse in the Bay Area, gained a faithful following for her local-sourcing approach and a menu that changed often. Fermented foods, preserves, and ultra-fresh vegetables all emerged from the kitchen. Meanwhile, herbs grew on in the rooftop garden. After “two years of pushing through this pandemic, [Larder has] decided to close [its] doors,” according to a Facebook post. In the new year, Larder will become a “nomadic entity” called Larder at Home with workshops, pop-ups and small scale catering.

Larder/Facebook

Viva Sol Juice Company (124 Maple Avenue West, Vienna) has closed up shop. The family-run juice and smoothie bar found a bigger market selling gluten-free empanadas and doughnuts during the pandemic. That realization, coupled with pandemic-related staffing challenges and a desire to minimize in-person interaction with customers, has led the owners to move to a commercial kitchen in Chantilly selling just doughnuts and empanadas for online ordering and delivery. [Tyson’s Reporter]

ABC Pony, D.C. restaurateur Erik Bruner-Yang’s hip Navy Yard hangout with one of the best burgers in town, is done after a 2-year run at the foot of a luxury apartment building. The versatile neighborhood cafe that opened with an Italian-Asian menu later sprinkled in experimental specials and pop-ups celebrating various cuisines. Chef Armani Johnson recently oversaw a Five Guys-style burger shop that dressed Creekstone Beef patties with inventive add-ons like crab dip, char siu bacon, and chili crisp ranch. A closing pop-up series stars eats from Cane chef Peter Prime (Wednesday, January 5 to Friday, January 8) and Hot Lola’s chef Kevin Tien next week. ⁠

Arlington’s Italian market Napoli Salumeria (1301 S Joyce St, Arlington) has served its final panini, first reported by ARLnow.com. The Pentagon City quick-stop for paninis, pizzas, and pastas was the second restaurant for Antonio Ferraro, who earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation for his Napoli Pasta Bar in Columbia Heights in 2018. Napoli Pasta Bar shuttered in 2021. Napoli Salumeria, which opened just over a year ago, was always intended to be a pop-up. According to a spokesperson, Ferraro is now the area manager for Stellina pizzeria.

Washington Deli (1990 K Street, NW) has ended a 35-year run. Owners Debbie and Jim Doherty announced the closure in a note on the deli’s door, saying that “the time has come” to close the doors. The long-running deli specialized in office catering and quick take-out lunches, including white clam pizza and hot parm heros.

---

2021 Closings

December

Rockville’s Amici Miei (6 N. Washington Street, Rockville) closed its doors on New Year’s Eve after 17 years in business. Owner Roberto Deias explained in an email to customers that he shuttered his popular Italian restaurant because of “ongoing financial challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to Bethesda Magazine. Amici Miei first opened in Potomac Woods Plaza before rent increases forced a move to Rockville in 2017. Deias has taken a management position at Trattoria da Lina in Takoma Park.

Teak Wood (1323 14th Street, NW), known for Thai food, sushi, and drag bunches, shuttered on Christmas Eve according to PoPville.com. A notice posted on the restaurant’s door announced the closure. The Logan Circle restaurant opened in September 2010.

Phillips Crab House/Facebook

After 66 years, Phillips Crab House in Ocean City, Maryland, has closed its doors. According to a Facebook post, the property has already been sold. No reason was given for the closure. The Phillips Flagship restaurant, on D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront, shuttered in 2014 to make way for The Wharf redevelopment. [WTOP]

Georgetown’s La Jolie Bleue Bakery (560 Wisconsin Avenue NW) has closed its doors according to a note on the bakery’s Instagram page. The family-owned bakery, which opened two and a half years ago, said that “the hardships during this past year made it impossible to work out on this location.” Popular for baklava, biscotti, and pastries stuffed with chicken and lamb, the bakery sold goods out of Eastern Market for six years before opening in Georgetown.

La Jolie Bleue/Facebook

After 30 years, Capitol Hill mainstay Tortilla Coast (400 First Street SE) poured its final margarita on December 18, according to Barred DC. The Tex-Mex restaurant had planned to close in July 2020, but public support and a hefty injection of funds from Restaurant Revitalization Fund seemed to reverse its fortune. By September of this year, business was still down 75% though. [Barred DC]

The Sushi Bar (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray announced its closure on social media on December 8. After eight years rolling sushi, the HomeGrown Restaurant Group has decided to reopen the space with a new concept in 2022.

The Carving Room (300 Massachusetts Avenue NW) in Mount Vernon Triangle will close permanently on December 23 after nine years delighting the D.C. area with house-cured pastrami and matzoh ball soup, according to an Instagram post. Owners Oded and Rachel Weizmann cited decreased business as a result of the pandemic as the cause. Sister restaurant CR Noma (130 M Street NE) will remain open.

The Smith on U Street, a modern American brasserie that opened in May of 2018, closed its doors on December 8 after “exhausting every possible option,” according to a company spokesperson. The regional chain’s flagship location (901 F Street NW) in Penn Quarter will remain open.

November

An 82-year old roadside diner has called it quits in Burtonsville, Maryland when Seibel’s served its final meal on November 28. In a letter posted to their website, the owners said that beyond the staffing challenges and the supply chain woes, the forced time away from the restaurant during the pandemic opened the owners eyes to travel. Seibel’s opened in 1939 as an ice cream shop before expanding to a full service restaurant in 1984. [NBC Washington]

Kino Coffee (2607 Wilson Boulevard) has poured its final “atonic bumble,” a coffee drink that combines ghost pepper, espresso, orange juice, and tonic water. The coffee shop and independent movie venue that changed names from This is Fine Coffee to Kino Coffee during its two-year run in Clarendon decided not to renew its lease because of “constant and persisting COVID uncertainties,” reports ARLnow.com. It closed permanently Sunday, November 28.

Social Beast and Mijita’s Tex Mex, the indoor/outdoor duo of restaurants in Glover Park, will close their doors November 30, reports the The Washingtonian. Social Beast opened this past spring after owner Aaron Gordon’s virtual food hall Ghostline closed in the same space. Social Beast served a Mijita’s menu and offered a safer way to gather and socialize with its spacious outdoor patio. Gordon said a difficult summer caused by the delta variant made continuing to operate impossible.

Astor Mediterranean (1829 Columbia Road, NW), a quick stop for kabobs and more, has closed its doors after decades in Adams Morgan, reports PoPville.com.

After more than a decade serving pad Thai in Pentagon City, Thaiphoon (1301 South Joyce Street) is closing its doors permanently on Sunday, November 21. The owners decided not to renew their lease and they aren’t planning to open elsewhere. Thaiphoon’s D.C. location (2011 South Street NW), which is under different ownership, will remain open. [ARLnow.com]

The party is over at Silver Spring’s TTT (Tacos Tortas Tequila) when the casual Mexican cafe pours its final margarita on November 29, reports The Washingtonian. Known for all-you-can-eat brunches washed down with inexpensive, 25-cent booze, the restaurant began to struggle when Discovery moved its headquarters out of Silver Spring in 2018, eliminating the bulk of its happy hour and lunch business. The Covid pandemic put the final nail in the coffin. TTT’s three-story sister restaurant in Clarendon (2900 Wilson Boulevard) will not close.

Downtown Bethesda’s Ruth’s Chris Steak House will serve its last ribeye on Christmas Eve, reports Bethesda Beat. Economic factors led to the demise of the longtime Wisconsin Avenue location that was in need of a makeover, general manager Lana Ward tells the pub. The New Orleans-born group is best known for its massive cuts of USDA prime steaks sizzling in butter, along with wedge salads and creamy sides. A remaining Maryland location in Gaithersburg is joined by local outposts in Crystal City, Tysons, and Fairfax, plus a shiny new D.C. flagship at 21st and L Streets NW. Early on in the pandemic, the megachain returned a $20 million federal loan amid criticism from the public.

Homegrown hit Butter Chicken Company, the fast-growing lunchtime destination for large trays of its namesake Indian dish, shed its H Street NE and Dupont Circle locations. Plans to become a national franchise played a part in the decision to downsize its dense D.C. portfolio, restaurateur and Bombay native Asad Sheikh tells Popville. A pair of fast-casual outposts remain in Adams Morgan (818 18th Street NW) and near Union Station (601 2nd Street NE).

Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

After a decade of filling up its Farragut North neighborhood on wings, New York-style pizzas, and garlic knots, quick-serve Fuel Pizza is now closed (1606 K Street NW), an employee tells Eater. The East Coast chain with a retro gas station look maintains a sole D.C. location in Chinatown and a cluster of addresses in Charlotte, N.C.

September

Dock FC, the Ivy City sports bar started by D.C. restaurateur and former pro soccer player Ari Gejdenson, has closed after a four-year run, it announced. The dressed-down space situated in a former warehouse aired global matches across 12 big screen TVs and was known for its list of international and local beers. Gejdenson’s Mindful Restaurant Group, which he recently dissolved, also founded Mexican eatery La Puerta Verde and all-day breakfast joint Ari’s Diner nearby.

August

Arcuri, the wood-fired pizza place and limoncello bar in Glover Park, will close after more than eight years of business on Saturday, August 28, according to an email signed by the owners. The restaurant, which has a Cello Room stage for music and comedy, sold thin, crispy pies like the Fig Lebowski (buffalo mozzarella, fig, prosciutto, port reduction) alongside pasta, salad, sandwiches, and bar snacks at 2400 Wisconsin Avenue NW. “We want to take this time to thank the community, including the Glover Park Citizens Association, the surrounding restaurants and businesses, Stoddert Elementary School PTA and most importantly our loyal customers for supporting us and sticking with us over the years!” the email reads. “Last but certainly not least, we want to thank our staff. You have been the most loyal and hardworking staff we could have ever asked for. Your commitment to Arcuri was unwavering and we will be forever grateful for that.”

July

Rosa Mexicano, a cavernous Mexican mainstay right across the street from Capital One Arena in Chinatown, has permanently closed after a 16-year run, COO Chris Westcott tells Eater. The NYC-born brand, one of the early entrants into the now-booming dining corridor, unveiled an untimely renovation days before the city shut down in 2020 to go along with an overhauled menu of Mexico City street tacos, ceviche samplers, tortas, bottomless brunch, and a late-night happy hour designed to take advantage of postgame and concert traffic. Westcott says the East Coast chain will continue to operate its location at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Sibling U Street NW dives the Velvet Lounge and Dodge City have permanently closed due to the business challenges of the pandemic, DCist reports. Opened in 1997, the Velvet Lounge was known for its sticker-tagged front window and its status as a proving ground for a wide array of DJs and indie bands. Dodge City opened in 2011, cultivating regulars with an unpretentious vibe and a small patio.

Chain pizzeria the Mellow Mushroom has gone under in Adams Morgan, Popville reports. The website for the lone D.C. location leads to a broken link. Two Northern Virginia locations, in Herndon and Chantilly, appear to be active.

June

Tacos El Chilango, a hidden gem on V Street NW that served a small menu with a traditional Mexican bent, announced on Facebook June 30 that it has permanently closed its standalone location after nine years of business. “The principal reasons are the increased scarcity of labor and personal health factors,” says a post signed by owner Juan Antonio Santacruz. “We feel so lucky to have had such loyal clientele all these years, and we will miss you.” The restaurant says its Arlington food truck off Route 50 will continue on. El Chilango was particularly beloved for its vegetarian tacos topped with a costa-style blanket of griddled cheese. It was reportedly a go-to for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Hank & Mitzi’s, the pizza- and pasta-driven revamp of Hank’s Pasta Bar from D.C. chef Jamie Leeds, has closed “for the foreseeable future” in Old Town Alexandria, according to a statement posted to its website and social media channels. The restaurant lasted less than a year, opening amid the pandemic last August.

May

Tropical island-themed bar Coconut Club will not reopen at the edge of the Union Market district, chef and owner Adam Greenberg tells Washington City Paper. The restaurant had been on hiatus since mid-October, and Greenberg told City Paper that it didn’t make financial sense to reopen. Since its January 2019 opening, Coconut Club had attracted crowds to sip frozen cocktails, order poke, and pose for photos in front of leafy murals.

April

Olazzo, a suburban Maryland favorite for Italian food, announced in late April it was closing its Silver Spring location after 15 years of business. The Bethesda location is still open.

March

PRG Hospitality’s pair of Declaration pizzerias are officially done in Shaw and Navy Yard, reports Washingtonian. Owner Alan Popovsky says the decision to permanently close stemmed from the fact there’s still no shows at 9:30 Club or a full house at Nationals Park — its “two biggest [revenue] drivers.” PRG will shift attention to the remainder of its patriotic-themed portfolio: downtown’s Teddy and the Bully Bar and Lincoln. The latter will now house Stingray Kitchen, the delivery-only, globetrotting venture that debuted out of Declaration’s Shaw address in January with Cantonese barbecue pizza and other Asian-leaning mash-ups.

“Female-friendly” sports bar and bottomless brunch spot the Bracket Room has closed after an eight-year run in Clarendon. Lined with 39 TVs, the bar was popular for game days and viewing parties for the Bachelor (former contestant Chris Bukowski co-founded the place). The 2,800-square-foot bar was unable come to terms on a renegotiation deal with its landlord, according to a closing message on its Instagram account. It recently put up its equipment on a local auction website, notes ArlNow. Clarendon lost another big sports bar with the closure of G.O.A.T. in January.

February

Hill Restaurant Group permanently closed Finn McCool’s, the popular two-level Irish pub on Barracks Row.

Sushi Para, the reliable Van Ness spot known for cheap beers, sushi boats, and a popular all-you-can-eat deal for neighborhood regulars in the know, is closed. The nearly decade-old D.C. location (4221 Connecticut Avenue NW) has been removed from the group’s website, and Eater confirmed its pair of Chicago outposts remain open.

Georgia Avenue NW’s historic Howard Deli has closed after nearly a century of sandwich sales. The family-run store says business was affected by the loss of Howard University student foot traffic due to the pandemic. In addition, its Army veteran owner Kent “Kenny” Gilmore can no longer run the deli due to health issues. The iconic grab-and-go fixture was long known for its breakfast and croissant sandwiches, “ghetto iced tea,” and staff outside the door greeting customers and making conversation.

Napoli Pasta Bar, the Southern Italian restaurant with colorful, hand-painted plates and a scooter that’s been converted into a dining room table, has closed in its Columbia Heights location on Sherman Avenue NW. Popville reports that ownership decided not to renew its lease and is looking for a new location. The Bib Gourmand-rated brand opened a deli on Arlington’s Pentagon Row in November that continues to sell pasta, salads, sandwiches, and pizza.

January

Atlantis Pizzeria & Family Restaurant, an Alexandria institution in Bradlee Shopping Center since 1983, permanently closed in mid-January. The strip mall staple amassed a neighborhood following for its Greek-Italian mix of pizza, pastas, souvlaki, and gyros. Despite a pivot to carryout-only service during the pandemic, sibling owners Bill and Jim Patrianakos couldn’t make ends meet to keep their large 200-seat restaurant running. “We never felt comfortable returning to indoor dining,” according to a closing message posted on Facebook. “We tried to work with the landlord to reduce the rent and those negotiations were unsuccessful ... retirement was never on our minds.”

Clarendon sports bar the G.O.A.T. has called it quits after a three-year run, ARLnow reports. The lively two-level replacement to Hard Times Cafe was popular for its burgers, wings, three bars, and plenty of game day views across 50 TVs and three TV walls. The pandemic proved too tough to fill the space regularly. Co-owners Scott Parker and Mike Cordero plan to keep remaining Arlington bars Don Tito, Barley Mac, and Bronson Bierhall alive, Parker tells the pub.

D.C.’s Marriott Wardman Park is permanently closed, which means the historic hotel’s upscale American steakhouse Stone’s Throw is also gone for good. Owner Pacific Life shut down the 103-year-old hotel ahead of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 11, WBJ reports. The 3,500-square-foot restaurant, which underwent a $3 million renovation in 2007, featured four private dining rooms, a chef’s table, and exhibition kitchen.

Siné Irish Pub announced its permanent closure over the weekend, ending a nearly 20-year run for the Pentagon Row bar. Siné, which translates to “this is it” in Gaelic, was popular for its Irish coffees, whiskey pours, Reubens, and wings. Siné’s other location remains open in Richmond, Virginia. The Pentagon City shopping center that frames an ice rink just rebranded as Westpost at National Landing to complement Amazon’s incoming HQ2 nearby.

---

2020 Closings

December

The original location of Taqueria Nacional, the Mexican street food spot on T Street NW just off the 14th Street strip, announced it will shut down at the end of the day Sunday, December 20. Popville flagged a note on the door of the taco shop from James Beard award-winning chef Ann Cashion and business parter John Fulchino, who opened the restaurant in a former post office in 2013. The pair opened a Mount Pleasant location that will remain open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

Magnolia Bakery, the New York City-based cupcake shop featured on Sex and the City and Saturday Night Live, has closed “for the foreseeable” future inside Union Station, its website says. The brand’s main website has removed the D.C. location from its list of stores.

Smoke & Barrel, the longstanding barbecue bar in Adams Morgan, announced in early December that it could not reopen in its current form. Owner John Andrade says he’s trying to renegotiate the lease to return in a smaller portion of the restaurant.

November

Tino’s Pizzeria posted a notice to its front door in Cleveland Park that said business “was no longer sustainable” due to the economic impact and capacity restrictions in place during the coronavirus pandemic. The tiny pizza shop in a converted Chipotle lasted a little over a year, standing out with a dedication to seasonal produce and toppings like chef Logan Griffith’s shallot goo.

The Oval Room, a white tablecloth destination near the White House known to draw visits from high-profile politicians and celebrities, has closed after 26 years of business. Owner Ashok Bajaj plans to introduce a new project in its place.

Pleasant Pops, the frozen fruit pop store and neighborhood cafe that moved into Adams Morgan in 2012, announced that it will permanently close Sunday, November 29. Co-owner Afua Owusu tells Washington City Paper the cafe was on a month-to-month lease, and the landlord elected not to renew it beyond November. Founders Brian Sykora and Roger Horowitz reportedly sold the shop to a group of former employees last year. A second location that opened downtown in 2015 lasted about three years.

The D.C. location for Maryland-based Phillips Seafood has closed on P Street NW in Logan Circle after less than two years of business. The restaurant saw steady business for crab legs and wood-fired steaks on its patio during the pandemic.

French cafe chain La Madeleine has closed its Bethesda location (7607 Old Georgetown Road).

Roy Boys, Navy Yard’s hangout for late-night fried chicken and all-day bloody marys, closed its Navy Yard location after a little over a year of business. The 60-seat bar, flanked with neon odes to its World Series-winning baseball team nearby, replaced shuttered Justin’s Cafe (1025 First Street SE). Co-owner Scott Parker, who also runs millennial hangouts in Arlington such as Don Tito and The G.O.A.T., plans to keep its inaugural Shaw location open.

Johnny’s Half Shell, a D.C. seafood fixture that has been open in various locations for 21 years, will not reopen after the pandemic, longtime co-owner John Fulchino announced on social media. In 2016 the beloved raw bar relocated from a politico-driven location on Capitol Hill to a more intimate, 80-seat setup in Adams Morgan that formerly housed Cashion’s Eat Place. Fulchino and chef Ann Cashion are also partners in Taqueria Nacional, which remains open for dine-in, takeout, and delivery on T Street NW and in Mount Pleasant.

Boundary Stone, the Bloomingdale watering hole known for cheap drafts, whiskey pours, and a lively weekend brunch scene, will go on an indefinite hiatus starting later this month. “With colder weather moving in, rising virus counts, and no relief on the horizon, we have made the truly agonizing decision to close Boundary Stone until further notice,” reads a Facebook post. The bar plans to operate as usual through Wednesday, November 25, for patio service, delivery, and to-go orders. For its Thanksgiving eve sendoff, the bar will stick to tradition with a 10th annual showing of The Last Waltz at 7 p.m.

October

After going dark in April, decades-old Dupont dive Big Hunt won’t reopen. Its lease expired on Halloween, and the landlord “is under financial pressure and needs to sell or lease property,” its listing broker tells Eater, adding “they would welcome an updated take on the Big Hunt.” Founded by D.C. nightlife pioneer Joe Englert in the 1990s, the bar drew a cult-like following for its underground comedy nights, gloriously tacky decor, and cheap drafts.

Burger Tap & Shake, the self-explanatory casual restaurant from Passion Food Hospitality chef Jeff Tunks, has permanently closed after nine years in Foggy Bottom. A tweet from the burger joint’s account says it hopes to reopen at a new location in the future. In August, BTS announced it planned to close until the fall. It was known for creative themed burgers that blended in pork and game meats, along with other international flavors.

Respected gin joint Wisdom is done after a dozen years near the Potomac Avenue Metro in Hill East. The neighborhood haunt boasted one of the largest selections of gin in the area, as well as an expansive collection of liqueurs and vermouth. A gin club at the bar invited members to sample over 100 varieties on its roster. Owner Erik Holzherr also ran gaming-friendly bar Idle Hands, which closed after a short run on H Street.

Clarendon’s patriotic-themed watering hole the Spirits of ’76 will close after four years of business on Sunday, November 1, at 3211 Washington Boulevard. The American comfort foods spot that was known for a vast whiskey list debuted right before the 2016 election and will bow out just before the 2020 election, notes ArlNow. “Our lease is up at the end of November and it has become unsustainable to continue during these times,” notes a social media post.

International churrascaria Texas de Brazil has permanently closed its 5-year-old D.C. location, leaving a huge empty space (455 Massachusetts Avenue NW) in Mt. Vernon Triangle. The showy steakhouse, which featured a chef’s table, private dining room, 50-item salad bar, a South American wine wall, lounge, and a sprawling patio, accommodated 280 patrons across 8,700 square feet. The D.C. phone number is rerouted to the 22-year-old chain’s Fairfax location, which remains open, and an employee there confirmed the D.C. counterpart will not reopen. The cavernous space formerly housed Buddha Bar, which flopped in 2012 after a two-year run. Texas de Brazil waiters, or “gauchos,” carve grilled meats from giant skewers tableside.

After a nearly 10-year run on the 14th Street NW strip, three-level taqueria El Centro D.F. has permanently closed, a representative for Richard Sandoval Hospitality confirms. The popular Logan Circle taco bar (1819 14th Street NW) could relocate elsewhere in the city, but the move was made “while the company navigates the current market conditions due to COVID-19.” A Georgetown location remains open.

U Street Music Hall, the underground destination for large crowds to catch top-rated DJs while spilling beer on a frequently packed dance floor, is done after 10 years. A statement the venue posted on its social media platforms cites “operational costs that never paused even while we were closed” for the past seven months, as well as an up-in-the air reopening timeline for music clubs. Owner Will Eastman tried to prolong its lifespan via merchandise sales, a GoFundMe campaign, and a livestream series, but no revenue coming in from live shows ultimately forced the venue to fold. Owner Will Eastman tells the Washington Post that a legal dispute with the club’s landlord over the terms of the lease played a part in the decision to vacate the space four years before the end of its rental agreement.

U Street dive bar Codmother has permanently closed after a 9-year-run despite a successful GoFundMe campaign that generated over $20,000. Popville flagged an Instagram post from owner Tolga Erbatur that said simply, “Farewell Mother,” days before signage was removed from the bar. The dingy, brick-lined watering hole was reminiscent of a keg party. College students and other regulars came for $4 PBRs, fish and chips, wings, and mozzarella sticks.

Homegrown gelato company Dolcezza announced it will close five of its nine D.C. area cafes (Logan Circle, CityCenterDC, Southwest Waterfront, Dupont Circle, Bethesda) throughout October.

Brothers Ian and Eric Hilton announced they will close seven of their popular bars around the U Street NW corridor (Marvin, the Gibson, the Brixton, El Rey, American Ice Co., Player’s Club, Echo Park) on Halloween.

September

Summers, the beloved soccer bar in Courthouse, is closing after nearly four decades, owner Joe Javidara told ARLnow. He made the call after he was unable to secure a permit for expanded outside seating. Sales were down 95 percent while rent remained $20,000, he adds. An online auction to sell off furniture, speakers, and kitchen equipment runs through October 13.

Boston-based Legal Sea Foods permanently closed its Chinatown and Crystal City, Virginia locations. “The pandemic has forced us to look at what are the most appropriate locations to [re-open],” Legal president and CEO Roger Berkowitz told SeafoodSource. The 70-year-old chain’s remaining area locations in Union Station and Reagan National Airport remain temporarily closed for now.

Acqua al 2, the decade-old Italian favorite on Capitol Hill that counted former Nationals star Bryce Harper as a regular, is finished. A closing statement posted on its website includes plans to maintain a neighborhood presence with a takeout sauce shop to recreate Acqua al 2 pasta dinners at home. Upstairs speakeasy Harold Black, an in-the-know politico hangout that discouraged flash photos and phone usage, is also permanently dark, Washington City Paper reports. Owner Ari Gejdenson tells the paper he’s dissolving Mindful Restaurants Group and handing ownership stakes over to former managers. That includes Ivy City’s La Puerta Verde, Dock FC, Ari’s Diner, as well as Penn Quarter’s subterranean Denson Liquor Bar. Ghibellina has also reopened in an Ivy City location (briefly Via) after closing in Logan Circle.

Sergio Ristorante Italiano, the 37-year standby in tucked under the Doubletree Hotel in Silver Spring, is officially closed, owner Sergio Toni tells Bethesda Beat. The reliable pasta place never reopened in any capacity once the pandemic struck in March, and Toni decided it wasn’t worth attempting a comeback because “we were losing money.” The 85-year-old adds he has no plans to reenter the restaurant world.

Pizzeria Paradiso’s decade-old outpost in Old Town is done, Washingtonian reports, with restaurateur Ruth Gresser citing “unsuccessful lease negotiations” as the cause for the closure. The location has not reopened since March, but there’s a farewell event slated for Sunday, October 4, with free T-shirts and pies at 124 King Street. Paradiso plans to maintain an Alexandria presence with monthly appearances at Port City Brewing starting Thursday, October 15. The local chain, known for its craft beer selection as much as its pizza, maintains locations in Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Spring Valley, and Hyattsville.

Alexandria also lost tiny, 2-year-old restaurant incubator Pendleton Carryout, per Washingtonian. The to-go and delivery counter (807 Pendleton Street) highlighted rotating menus from food truck start-ups and established brands, serving everything from pizza to dumplings. New York-style sandwich and bagel brand Chewish Deli will soon replace the space, Alexandria Patch reports.

Lucky Buns chef Alex McCoy has shut down Som Tam, his Thai street food stall that sold spicy green papaya salads and khao soi inside Union Market. An Instagram post from McCoy says Som Tom will be be “taking a break for the indefinite future.” Thai natives Lekki Limvatana and Satang Ruangsangwanata oversaw the little, lantern-lined setup that opened in January. Eater reached out to McCoy about the status of Som Tam’s long planned NoMa location.

Go-to dive Capitol Lounge, a popular hangout for locals, Hill staffers, and Michigan State alumni, will close on Sunday, September 20, after a 26-year run. The affordable pub (229 Pennsylvania Avenue SE), known for weekday specials like 25-cent wings on Tuesdays, was founded by prolific nightlife entrepreneur Joe Englert.

After nearly seven years in Dupont Circle, bourbon bar Rebellion will serve its last shot on Saturday, September 19. Owners confirmed the news to Popville. “Being shut down three separate times due to COVID-19 and a landlord unwilling to work with us on any type of rent reduction and/or deferment has made for an untenable situation. This is the most heartbreaking decision we have ever had to make,” a statement says.

Local pizza chain Matchbox closed its 8-year-old location on 14th Street NW on Monday, September 7. Popville first flagged the closing signage on the door, and WTOP reports the move is part of an overall restructuring plan, per a Thompson Hospitality rep. A pair of D.C. locations, in Capitol Hill and Penn Quarter, remain open. Matchbox Restaurant Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization summer, selling off the multi-state brand to Thompson Hospitality.

Chef Victor Albisu’s modern Mexican restaurant Poca Madre, along with the sole D.C. location of his fast-casual Taco Bamba chain, will not reopen in Penn Quarter. A representative for Albisu confirmed to Eater the side-by-side closures. Washingtonian first reported the news.

BBQ Bus Smokehouse in Brightwood went on an indefinite hiatus on Labor Day. Its online catering store will remain open through December in limited capacity. “Our best hope for reuniting on a new day is to press pause,” according to a circulated statement from the team.

---

August

Twins Jazz, the live music institution on U Street NW owned by Ethiopian-born sisters Kelly and Maze Tesfaye, permanently closed after 33 years of business. Its original location was in Brightwood.

Irish pub Kitty O’Shea’s will pour its last shot of Jameson next month, wrapping up a nine-year run in Tenleytown. Its last day of business is scheduled for Thursday, September 27, according to a closing statement on Facebook. “We look forward to making the best of these last few weeks with the people who have made our small watering hole the special place that it is,” reads the post.

Fast-casual Mediterranean eatery Aabee Express closed for good after just two years on Pentagon Row, reports ArlNow.

After a six-year run on 14th Street NW, homegrown chain Amsterdam Falafel permanently closed its doors due to COVID-19, according to a sign on the door flagged by PopVille. Its Adams Morgan location remains open.

---

July

Fast-casual Middle Eastern chain Naf Naf Grill won’t reopen its three-year-old outpost on K Street NW.

A&D, the low-key Shaw cocktail bar that shared ownership with the Sundevich sandwich shop around the corner, has ended an eight-year run. A Popville tipster shared a photo of a for-lease sign in the window, and a statement on the bar’s website says it’s permanently closed. A&D packed a lot of value into $12 cocktails ($9 at happy hour) like a Corner Smoke with mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, and lime. Bar snacks straight out of a teenager’s pantry (peanut M&Ms, French bread pizzas) added to its charm.

After nine years of pouring drafts from 30 taps, downtown pub Maddy’s Taproom will close for good on Saturday, July 25. The restaurant announced the news in a Facebook post. “We tried, but the economic impact was just too much,” the post says. Customers are invited to drink the bar dry and support staff from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, through closing day (1100 13th Street NW).

After 23 years in Cleveland Park, Firehook Bakery will close permanently on Thursday, July 30, according to a message on the door that Popville shared. The longstanding local bakery was unable to secure a long-term lease at 3411 Connecticut Avenue NW and therefore can “no longer support ongoing operation during this health crisis.” Its Q Street NW location in Dupont remains open.

The space formerly occupied by downtown’s Taqueria Local appears to be for rent, according to Popville. The fast-casual taco joint lasted two years.

Bistro Bohem, the Czech-style bar and cafe in Shaw that poured Pilsner Urquell alongside hearty beer hall dishes, has permanently closed after eight years of business in Shaw.

B Too, a popular brunch spot where Top Chef alum Bart Vandaele served Belgian mussels and doughnut-waffle “doffles,” is officially done after eight years on the 14th Street NW strip.

The owner of the Grille at Flower Hill in Gaithersburg opted to shut the barbecue place down rather than follow Montgomery County orders that require workers to wear cloth masks.

Happy hour spot Magnolia Kitchen & Bar wrapped up a two-year run in Dupont Circle on Friday, July 10.

Tierney Plumb/Eater DC

Clyde’s Restaurant Group, the local powerhouse that owns Old Ebbitt Grill and other venues known for oysters, crab cakes, and classic American bar food, announced it will close the Clyde’s in Columbia, Maryland, along with adjacent concert hall the Soundry on July 19. The Howard County Clyde’s has been open since 1975. Chief Operating Officer John McDonnell cites “several years of struggling sales, the pandemic, and the challenges music venues are now facing as a result” in a statement announcing the closures. Both restaurants were close to the Merriweather Post Pavilion amphitheater.

Mason Dixie Biscuit Co., the one-time pop-up for fried chicken and biscuits that has grown a national business with its line of frozen groceries, has permanently closed its diner-style setup in Shaw after less than two years there.

---

June

Shaw’s subterranean cocktail bar Nocturne announced it will never reopen.

America Eats Tavern, José Andrés’s sole Georgetown restaurant, has closed on M Street NW after two years of serving pan-regional barbecue and other dishes that payed tribute to American culinary history.

The Post Pub, a 44-year-old dive bar that enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with the old Washington Post headquarters at 15th and L Street NW for the majority of its run, has permanently closed downtown.

A Rake’s Progress, the high-priced, local-sourcing Mid-Atlantic restaurant that brought James Beard Award-winning chef Spike Gjerde to D.C., has permanently closed after two and a half years of business on the top floor of the trendy Line hotel in Adams Morgan.

DMV pizza chain Red Rocks closed its 7-year-old location on H Street for good. “Since the pandemic hit, we decided it was better to close,” a manager at the Old Town location tells Eater. Its Old Town and Columbia Heights locations remain open.

Popville reports that wood-fired pizza place Ghibellina and adjacent jazz club Sotto have been cleared out on 14th Street. A tipster tells the blog a manager at sibling spot Aqua al 2 confirmed the closures. Mindful Restaurant Group owner Ari Gejdenson did not respond to Eater’s request for a comment. [P]

Reliable happy hour spot Cafe Soleil just closed after a 12-year run near the White House. The all-day cafe’s menu included steaks, salads, sandwiches, and fresh seafood. In addition to the pandemic, owner Alex Heidenberger cites a growing number of hurdles — including “constant rent hikes” and “constant riots near the White House” — as cause for its demise in an Instagram post.

Eighteenth Street Lounge, or “ESL”, just wrapped up a 25-year run on Dupont Circle. The legendary lounge, lined with bars, vintage furniture, and dance floors across multiple floors, opted not to wait out the pandemic and far-out reopening timeline for nightclubs.

Peregrine Espresso announced it will close its 14th Street NW location Sunday, June 28, citing the end of a 10-year lease and rising rents on the condo-heavy strip. The popular cafe’s locations in Eastern Market and Union Market will remain open.

Pom Pom, Petworth’s whimsical, globe-trotting replacement to Himitsu, will not reopen after the pandemic, reports WCP. Carlie Steiner unveiled the colorful eatery last September, tapping Doi Moi alum Amanda Moll to lead a small plates menu filled out by Middle Eastern, Asian, Latin American, and Southern flavors.

---

May

George’s Chophouse in Bethesda just closed for good, Bethesda Magazine reports. Restaurateur Ashish Alfred debuted 4935 Bar & Kitchen in the space in 2012, then flipped it into a steakhouse named after his late brother in 2018. George’s (4935 Cordell Avenue) wouldn’t be able to make up the revenue it lost while its second-story events space has been shut down, Alfred tells the pub. He hopes to transfer employees to his two remaining restaurants, locations of Duck Duck Goose in Bethesda and Baltimore. [BM]

Mai Thai in Dupont will not reopen after COVID-19. The location actually quietly closed shortly before the pandemic reached the area, a manager tells Eater. Mai Thai’s other locations (Old Town, Georgetown) sister spot Thaiphoon in Dupont remain open for takeout.

Montmartre, a 20-year-old French bistro in Capitol Hill, and adjoining Seventh Hill Pizza have closed because the owners do not predict a successful return to business in the COVID-19 era. [EDC]

David Chang’s Momofuku CCDC closed after five years of business as part of a companywide overhaul. [EDC]

Wolfgang Puck’s Asian restaurant the Source wrapped up its 13-year run inside the Newseum building in Penn Quarter. Puck’s CUT steakhouse in Georgetown plans to reopen. [EDC]

The Lucky Strike bowling alley and bar in Chinatown appears to have closed for good, removing its Twitter account and its D.C. listing from the chain’s website. [Popville]

P.F. Chang’s pulled out of Montgomery County and permanently closed its Friendship Heights location, just over the D.C. line. [BM]

A pair of decades-old gay clubs closed in D.C.: Ziegfeld’s/Secrets near Nationals Park and leather bar DC Eagle in Northeast. [DCist]

---

April

Fado Irish Pub won’t reopen after the novel coronavirus crisis is over. However, the 22-year-old essential Irish bar claims its demise is tied to lease issues, not the pandemic. [EDC]

NYC burger chain Bareburger permanently closed its sole D.C. location after four years in Dupont. [P]

---

March

Campono, the Italian restaurant inside the Watergate building, was told by its landlord to vacate by the end of April.