DonRocks Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 I cannot post details without explicit permission, but prepare to grieve for one of our most beloved institutions. I have now heard this from no less than six people, all independently. Damn it I want to tell you ASAP so you can hurry up and get there one more time. To put things in perspective, it isn't even the worst news I've heard in this past week - not by a long shot. As sad as a restaurant closure is, another tragic event has dwarfed it in scope. Respect and sorrow. You know who you are, and how much I care for you both. Rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonc Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I haven't the foggiest idea which restaurant this might be but one thing wouldn't surprise me: Huge increases in rents. Rental rates have soared. Some restaurants with old expiring leases are probably looking at enormous increases. I've been hearing about rents from several sources. If some restaurants have tried to renegotiate in view of expiring leases I suspect they are planning closures. Of course there could be many many reasons, but I have heard abt rents from several sources. In certain submarkets the retail rates have gone through the roof. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas P Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I heard about this from a friend this morning. I'm still in a state of shock over it. I heard that it is, indeed, a matter of no longer being able to afford the building rent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Gardner Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 waiting anxiously to hear the news. i trust you will post here when you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnb Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Ben's???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 We'd mourn bens for less than a day. Think bigger. This place puts DC on the culinary f'n map. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Radigan Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Tallula Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sthitch Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 If it is Palena I will not be rushing there to relive some of the great meals that I have had because it would only remind me of how far it has fallen. A once great restaurant that unfortunately took a step too far and suffered for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonc Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 sounds like it's restaurant eve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBag57 Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Yeah, the "how much I care for you both" comment had me thinking of Restaurant Eve as well, but I didn't think Old Town would have been one of the markets where rents are skyrocketing (although the recent "sale" of the Yacht Club probably is having the effect of opening the floodgates to massive redevelopment). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanishka Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Two Amys? CityZen? Citronelle is already gone. Marcels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choirgirl21 Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 If it is Restaurant Eve someone please dear god tell me, even if its via PM so I can go there this wkd. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lion Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Ditto to what Choirgirl21 said. That's one of the sad parts of staying in the same town for a long time. Things don't stay the same and some favorites disappear along the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas P Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I don't have direct word about it, but it is Palena that's closing. A friend was drinking with some members of the staff last night and said they were pretty upset about it. I hated hearing the news from her this morning, it's my favorite restaurant in the city and a stone's throw away from where I live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antonio Burrell Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 As I sit here and look at that list of suspects, it saddens me to no end, breaks my heart. Any one of those restaurants have been instrumental in creating timeless memories for many, and to lose any of them impacts not only us but their families and all the struggles that went into making the dream a reality in the first place. The loss of any of those places whether Ben's or Eve or Palena leaves us all as a community a little poorer. I drink a drink tonight to whomever you are...I hope this is but a pit stop on the way to something better, a bump and not an end. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Radigan Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 let me say I do hope its not the one I suggested. and for that none of the ones that have been listed following. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.R. Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Although I understand the newsworthiness of Rocks post, the thread should have been closed after that. Unsubstantiated speculation about a restaurant (or any businesses) demise can have real effects. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithstg Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Although I understand the newsworthiness of Rocks post, the thread should have been closed after that. Unsubstantiated speculation about a restaurant (or any businesses) demise can have real effects. Agreed x100. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escoffier Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Actually, after some cogitation, it's probably just as bad to say anything until the dreaded event occurs. (cliche alert!) When the other shoe drops, no other business (group, restaurant, person, whatever) will have been subjected to innuendo and speculation. While it's great that most of us never speculate on things like this, once a name is mentioned, the rumor takes on a life of it's own (not one that is fatal, I hope, but things happen). Now events like rumored openings, unbelievable bargains, amazing food, those should be encouraged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bart Posted April 24, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted April 24, 2014 I started writing this response 3 different times and then deleting it, but everytime I come back to this thread I get annoyed and start it again. So here I go.......... Although I understand the newsworthiness of Rocks post, I don't. What's the point of this thread? Are we playing "I've got a secret"? Is the whole point of it to be able to brag about being first to break the story once there is an actual story? So far here's what we know (excluding the post about Palena which everyone seems to be ignoring): "Something is about to happen somewhere around here to someplace that some of us like. And it's probably not good news since grieving will be involved." I guess my issue/point/complaint is: Either tell us or don't tell us! Don't dance around in tease-ville!! Thank you, I feel better now. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 PS - I doubt it's Eve because they just went through a major rennovation. Would they actually spend all that time and money on that effort just before their lease was up? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas P Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Before any more speculation gets thrown around, I can assure you all that it is a fact that members of the staff at Palena were upset the other night because they had been told the restaurant is closing. The reason they mentioned was that the rent is too damned high. I was hesitant to post about this at first because there isn't official word yet, and maybe they are still trying to work something out to avoid closing or have other reasons to delay the announcement. But it is also a fact that word has spread enough that people were talking about this at Atomic Billiards, and I've seen friends talking about it on Facebook, so it didn't seem right to me to keep you all in the dark. I haven't been able to get their closing off my mind since I heard about it, and I hope something can still be done to keep it from happening. I walked by on my way to work this morning and noticed they've taken down the sign advertising positions for hire at the coffee shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Thomas thank you for this. It is terrible news. This is a place I spent six amazing years at...and it feels as if I'm losing a member of my own family. Please all, come out in large numbers to give this temple of gastronomy the send off it rightly deserves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Johnston Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I agree terrible news, there is nothing on the website and they just took a reservation at the cafe for Sunday. I hope that they can work something out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyVanWise Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Washington City Paper is reporting as well http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2014/04/24/palena-restaurant-faces-eviction/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Washington City Paper is reporting as well http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2014/04/24/palena-restaurant-faces-eviction/ that is a sad and cr@ppy story to read about. It seems to be a longish term issue. Federal Realty is a big time real estate group. My recollection is they purchased that site from a seller who I doubt sells cheap so I suspect high rents. That is crummy. That great chef/restaurateur should get a business assistant/partner to help him make a fantastic restaurant a financial success also imho. The last part is difficult and heavy rents don't help if the volume of business ebbs and flows and faces consistent competition. Sorry to hear about it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookluvingbabe Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Washington City Paper is reporting as well http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2014/04/24/palena-restaurant-faces-eviction/ Fuck. I was at the coffee shop today--first time actually there though I had peeked in previously. To say the mood of the staff was somber would be an understatement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBag57 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Yes, this does not sound like a new lease problem, but rather struggling under the current lease, and maybe with a looming rent increase, causing the decision to shut down operations. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Antonio Burrell Posted April 25, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted April 25, 2014 I hate to dwell on sad news, and this is really sad...so I will instead share with you all a few personal memories on Palena. I and probably most chefs in town will probably back me up on this, have always left Palena having eaten great food but also having had something that is very rare for a chef to experience...inspiration in another. I've always had something at Palena that has made me question my own adequacy as a chef...something that always made me strive to become better at my craft...something that I knew and still know I could never do as good, not even close. Those ethereally clear consummes, that incredible, legendary, standard setting chicken...everything at times could click to create a perfect storm and those times were even more special. I've also always loved Franks dedication to silent excellence. He always seems to have flown more under the radar than he should...he's probably the quietest James Beard award winner you'll ever meet. He's always been a chef as a monk. Quietly content in his single kitchen, striving for perfection. I love Palena and am sorry to see it go but I AM thankful for 3 of some of my favorite memories of all time: my 32nd birthday, the day I asked my wife to marry me, and those consummes....oh those consummes. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Deb Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 It's a real shame. I was fortunate to have a wonderful birthday dinner there. What a loss. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cook In / Dine Out Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I really really hope this isn't true, but sadly I fear it may be. Palena is my favorite restaurant in DC. I love the roast chicken, which I had fun attempting to re-create in my blog. I also love their burger, which I named my favorite in a "Burger Madness" I did a couple years ago. Everything else I've had there has been great too. Many fond memories. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithhemb Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 So sad re Palena. Came here after reading the WCP article, wondering if there was more/other/better news. Without Dino or Palena, my guess is we won't be headed to CP for dinner anymore. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev29 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Without Dino or Palena, my guess is we won't be headed to CP for dinner anymore. West of the Park is O-V-E-R. Smothered by its own wealth. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post turbogrrl Posted April 25, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted April 25, 2014 Maybe beyond speculation or naming names, the lesson here is that we need to patronize the places we care about. Enjoy them while we can. Just like people, if you consistently tell them you care-- it doesn't mean you won't lose them suddenly at some point. Just that you'll have fewer regrets if it happens. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 [To Snow White and the 17 Dwarfs: My explanation can be found here. The bottom line is I didn't have permission to break this story, and I wasn't going to shove a knife in my friend's back. But I knew what was happening, and that if I said something, it would set off a chain reaction. I was right, and now you have one more chance to go. You're welcome.] 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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