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Toledo Lounge Sold to Owners of Ventnor Cafe and Black Squirrel
Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour
It’s been a crazy week for Adams Morgan. First we learn that Adams Morgan Bar and Grill closed and now this. I’m hearing that it appears Toledo Lounge located at 2435 18th St. NW will change ownership at the end of the month. According to their Web site:
The Toledo Lounge is an Adams Morgan institution. Mary and Stephanie Abbajay, sisters and refugees from the Washington political scene of the early 1990s, opened the Lounge in July 1994. It was a hit from day one and has been going strong ever since.
Now remember it appears I was wrong about a Panera moving into the Adams Mill Bar and Grill space (though we did learn that Panera would be coming to DC USA in Columbia Heights) so take the following with a grain of salt: I hear that the owner of nearby Ventnor Sports Cafe and a partner, possibly from the also nearby Black Squirrel have purchased the bar. Ed. Note: The new basement bar of Black Squirrel is looking really good and seems to be nearly completed.
Emails go un-returned to the two establishments. I was able to briefly reach the owner, Scott, of Ventnor Cafe by telephone but he would not confirm nor deny the news before ending the call and unfortunately did not call back. So not exactly sure what that means…
UPDATE 11:29am, Sale is confirmed:
“It’s true. We are selling the Lounge. In fact, today is the day we go to settlement — as I write this, in fact. Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and fantastic support over the years. My sister Mary and I opened the Toledo Lounge 17 years ago — in July of 1994. It’s been a fantastic run, but it’s time to turn the old girl over to some new blood. Jon (my partner and the Lounge’s GM for the past 8 years) and I are confident that the new owners — Tom, Scott and Amy — will keep the Lounge spirit alive, and we wish them well. Long live the Lounge!”
Again, this is only scuttlebutt and I haven’t heard any concrete plans so I’ll be sure to update when/if more info becomes available.
Category: Adams Morgan, Bars, scuttlebutt
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..or bike. or bus. or drive. or cab. or walk. or stay in the neighborhood.
people... 
I guess they'll have to just walk the half mile to the NOMA Metro or take the H St...
do all texans think the same?
i'm not sure why i get why that is relevant.
Sally
4:54pm
Frankly, as a Texan, I have never had worse enchiladas than I had at Mi Cocina. I don't...
That sucks. Toledo Lounge, as-is, is one of the only palatable places in Adams Morgan on weekends.
I heard around the industry that it’s actually one of the managers that’s buying Toledo. But then again, that’s just a rumor. Let’s hope it’s true, though.
Fingers crossd blittle.
Ugh, Ventnor is the worst. I hope they keep the staff of Toledo and don’t sink to hiring the low caliber of staff they have at Ventnor.
They better keep Tommy from Toledo. Best waiter in all of DC.
I love the staff at Ventor’s.
So, I have it on good authority that the entire staff of Toledo was already FIRED LAST MONDAY. If so, the entire ownership group (new and old) can all rot.
I would argue the opposite. Ventnor’s staff is great Toledo staff is inattentive and apathetic. It’s like you are bothering them when you order….
No freaking way. Toledo’s staff it first-rate from the cooks to the bartenders and wait staff.
Ventnor staff has always treated us well.
If the folks behind the Black Squirrel are involved in the ownership of Toledo Lounge, my days of hanging at TL are over.
+1. exactly.
+1
+1. Friends don’t let friends support the Black Squirrel.
The current owner of the Toledo Lounge is pretty right-wing as well.
+1. Havent been back to the Squirrel since I learned the owner was a bigot. Instead I go to mixtec to funnel my disposable income into the immigrant community so they can buy new knives and guns to kill white people with…
^^^^^^^^^^^^ all these comments require clarification.
Former post:
http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2011/01/is-it-a-good-idea-for-a-restaurantbar-to-blog-about-political-topics-andor-other-non-restaurantbar-news/
regarding Black Squirrel
http://www.blacksquirreldc.com/279/
+1 and then some for all of my friends (so maybe that adds at least +8 to be conservative?)
I funnel my monies to Pica Taco so they can slowly destory white America from the inside of our bellies out.
Horrid news. Hopefully Kenny, Tom and the rest of the staff are kept.. .AND THE JUKEBOX. Toledo is one of the few places worth a piss in AM for the non douche.
kenny is gone for sure
Love the jukebox. It’s like the 90′s never ended!
I wish that someone who is from Toledo would buy it. I don’t think the current owner has ever even been to Toledo.
Wrong – the two founders were very much from Toledo, and at least one of them – Stephanie Abbajay — was a co-owner until today. And to an earlier poster, she is certainly not “right wing as hell” — far from it — so you must mean her partner or have your fact wrong… or be so far left that you think moderate is right wing.
I’m just recalling a lively conversation about politics that I had with the manager — presumably her partner — several years ago. Definitely not from Toledo, and definitely not much more liberal than the Black Squirrel guy.
It’s true. We are selling the Lounge. In fact, today is the day we go to settlement — as I write this, in fact. Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and fantastic support over the years. My sister Mary and I opened the Toledo Lounge 17 years ago — in July of 1994. It’s been a fantastic run, but it’s time to turn the old girl over to some new blood. Jon (my partner and the Lounge’s GM for the past 8 years) and I are confident that the new owners — Tom, Scott and Amy — will keep the Lounge spirit alive, and we wish them well. Long live the Lounge!
Thats fine and dandy, but do you KNOW their actual intentions?
This is making me cry. I love this place and met my best friends here. I hope that Toledo never goes away.
Staff worked Sunday, and was let go Monday with no notice! I’m sure it will become another crappy spot. The sisters wanted fresh blood, maybe they should looked for other buyers!
Thats horrible news.
A little bit of Gambier slips away.
A fellow kenyonite! Where will alumns gather now??
I’m not sure. I think there are a lot fewer of us here now than a few years ago, but everyone just knew to head to you guys…
Actually there are more of us!
In all seriousness, where will we now gather? Will the Kenyon memorabilia stay on the walls?
best grilled cheese and onion rings in DC (esp on 1/2 priced wednesday).
AND the when it rains we pour special? every time in rains in dc on a wednesday i will weep a little
I hope Ryan still works there when they change ownership, and I hope they still have grilled cheese happy hours. One of the last remaining reasons to occasionally frequent Adams Morgan.
The best things about Toledo how uncrowded it got with prices so low. As long as that stays the same I’ll go back no matter who owns it.
Just keep the grilled cheese night! and Tommy the waiter!
Ventnor and its staff are fantastic. Black Squirrel is also fun, so I think this is great news!
I don’t know about Scott at Ventor’s, but I heard that dude at the Black Squirrel recently passed away. If so, it serves him right, although I met him a couple of years ago and he seemed all right. Kind of douche, though, in a creepy, eerie sort of way.
POP – any scuttlebut on this:?
If the Fox & Hounds is ever sold I will curl up into a fetus position and cry.
The Fox and Hounds hasn’t been the same since RJ left to open his own place 15 or so years ago.
Shall we expect them to start a racist blog now too?
Toledo was a real chill cat. Sad, but then again, sadder than the “Commonwealth is closing” thread engendered far more response from the commentariat.
Resurrect A.M.
I love TL. Does this mean no more discounts on Friday nights for Kenyon alums?