James Hoban’s Irish Restaurant Bought and closing “mid-July”, Becoming The Admiral “in late 2019”

1 Dupont Circle, NW. via James Hoban’s Irish Restaurant and Bar

From a press release:

“Mission Group owners Fritz Brogan and Reed Landry have announced the acquisition of James Hoban’s Irish Restaurant & Bar located at 1 Dupont Circle buying the business from veteran restaurateur Patrick Whelan, who is retiring, and who will close the restaurant in mid-July. Over the next five months, the Mission Group will perform a multi-million dollar renovation and re-open in late 2019 as The Admiral paying tribute to Admiral Samuel Francis DuPont for whom the circle is named.

The 8,500 square-foot space will feature three bars, 14 draft lines and 15 big screen televisions. The 3,000 square-foot outdoor patio, one of the largest in Washington DC, will provide separate dining, lounge and event spaces.

The kitchen will be overseen by Mission Group corporate chef Roberto Hernandez and will have a menu of approachable American comfort food.

Similar to all Mission Group venues, The Admiral will provide daily happy hour, bottomless brunch, event spaces with no rental fees and a weekend late night atmosphere with DJs. The new space is being designed by Teri Coates of Canvas Architecture, Washington DC, with the build-out and construction management handled by John Gardner of Wallace Consulting and Construction,, Highland, MD.

Mission Group develops, owns and operates high volume bars and restaurants in some of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Washington DC, including Dupont Circle’s Mission Dupont, U Street’s Hawthorne and Mission Navy Yard across from Nats Stadium. The company lives by the adage that “it’s more fun to eat in a bar than to drink in a restaurant.”