1537 17th Street, NW photo by Beau Finley
Something is going on here. Yesterday I broke the news that Trio was closing soon in Dupont Circle after 75 years based on an announcement from the General Manager, saying they’d be closing after having one last hurrah November 2nd. Since then WTOP and Washington Business Journal have both since posted the same with no new details. HOWEVER, something is fishy to me. I went to check Trio’s IG to see if they have made an official announcement on their Instagram and this is what comes up for today:
Why would they be announcing a happy hour if they plan on closing in 10 days. AND take a look at the phone numbers – the phone number on the flyer is a 202 (which I called yesterday to confirm the upcoming closure) but the one in the text of the IG post is a 703 number (I called that one unfortunately it went to voicemail.)
Furthermore if you go to their website the 202 number has been changed to the 703 number:
ANYWAY, something feels off to me.
This is a DEVELOPING report so stay tuned as this thing shakes out with Trio and Fox & Hounds.
“In 1905, Peter Mallios, a 13 year old boy from Arcadia, Greece, headed for America. Knowing no English and having no chaperone to greet him in New York, he was not permitted to leave the ship and was returned to Greece. Back in Greece but undeterred, he boarded the next ship headed for America. This time, on arrival, he yelled “Uncle! Uncle!” at the first man he saw, ran off the ship and disappeared into the crowd.
Many years later, Peter, a World War I Veteran and self educated successful restauranteur, met the lovely, young Helen Doukas in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania.
Helen Doukas came to American from Sparta, Greece, for soldier drawing 1950s September 15, 1921, at the age of 17. Helen was detained at Ellis Island for over a month waiting for her Uncle to escort her to Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, where she would care for his children and teach them to speak Greek. Years later in Wilkesbarre, she met Peter while taking tickets at a movie theater and they were married in 1928. After several devastating floods from the Susquehana River, Peter and Helen left Pennsylvania in 1940 with their three children, Margarita, Dimitri, and George.
Before 1939, TrioDC was actually a pharmacy. The pharmacy moved to the old Westminster Hotel, and a luncheonette named Tuntitled-10rio was born, named for the three partners. In 1950, “Mr. Pete” and his wife, Helen, bought Trio Bistro Restaurant with a partner, who has since passed away. “Rita”, Dimitri and George all worked their way through college.
In 1960, Rita’s husband, Gus Ladas (a restaurant man from Chicago), became a partner in the thriving Trio. Dimitri returned from the Army to pursue a successful career as an attorney representing local and national restaurants. George returned from the Navy to become a partner in the business. The business expanded to include the Fox and Hounds Lounge in 1967, Trio Pizza Shop in 1973, and the sidewalk cafes in 1975 (among the first in Washington, DC). Mr. Pete retired from the business in 1975 and Gus retired from the business in 1985.
Mr. Pete passed away in 1978. But Wednesdays, “Mrs. Pete” (now in her nineties) still has lunch at the Trio with family and friends. Tell her you enjoyed the story of her family when you see her!”