Statement from owners on the sale of James Hoban’s Irish Bar in Dupont

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

From an email:

“After 12 exciting, successful and happy years trading in Dupont Circle, we have decided to accept an offer from the Mission group to sell James Hobans. 

When we opened James Hobans 12 years ago our goal was to present many of the best aspects of Irish hospitality in a modern setting. It is for others to judge whether we achieved this, but for as long as we have been here we have become the first port of call for so many Irish and other visitors to DC including a great number of politicians, diplomats and journalists.

We have also been fortunate to have been patronized by so many embassies, organizations, institutions and groups from so many different countries and for all this, we are most grateful. Most of all, however, we are grateful to the large number of regular customers who have been the bedrock of our business. We will greatly miss these friends and customers. We will also be sad to say goodbye to our loyal and excellent managers and staff who are the greatest asset of any business. 

While my wife Regina and I now look forward to a little more leisure, we are pleased to confirm that we will continue to own and operate (with our excellent teams) our other two restaurants ( The Bards, in Philadelphia and O’Faolains in Sterling, VA).Sadly. James Hobans will soon be just a memory but for us it will always be a proud and happy one. Thanks to all of you who made it so.

Patrick, Regina & Vincent Whelan”