end of an era

It’s Official – Angles and Little Fountain have Sold, Last Day is July 31st

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_5069
2339 18th Street, NW

Last week I mentioned that no matter how hard you try you can not stop the winds of change. And sometimes that’s OK. Owners Patrick and Kim have been operating the bar and restaurant for coming on 23 years. And 23 years in Adams Morgan, surviving all the ups and downs is really 46 years. As I said last week, this place was really special to me. And it was really special to many others. It was a neighborhood bar for a neighborhood that didn’t really have a neighborhood bar (no offense to Millie & Al’s, RIP) when they opened in ’95 (Little Fountain opened a couple years earlier in ’93.) Anyway why was this spot so special to me and many others? Like any good neighborhood, it is because of the people. And the people came because of Patrick and Kim.

IMG_5073
Patrick looking wistful remembering the good times and the tough times but mostly the good times

Now this may sound a bit ridiculous – but Patrick is a little bit like ‘the most interesting man in the world’ from those beer commercials. And when you’re incredibly interesting you attract an incredibly interesting clientele. And bike messengers. I kid, I kid. But seriously some of those bike messengers were crazy. Hell almost every regular in that place was a bit crazy. (more…)

Owners of Angles and Little Fountain Cafe in Negotiations to Sell

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_5181
2339 18th Street, NW

And so the wind continues to blow. Doesn’t make it any less sad to hear though. And this one stings a lot for me. When I first moved to the District in 1997 this was my very first home away from home. But more on that when this is finalized. Suffice it to say I and many others have had lots of fond, fuzzy and crazy memories at one of the best true, and not used tritely, neighborhood bars – Angles. And Little Fountain Cafe of course has been one of the best “hidden gems” for years. They’d be celebrating their 23rd anniversary next month. Welp, the rumors have been swirling for a while and all I can say is – it’s true. It’s not a done deal yet but the owners are indeed in very serious negotiations to sell the building. Nothing has been finalized as of today but I’ll be updating with more details when it is official.

I’m now going to listen to Tom Waits for a few hours and hopefully stop weeping by this evening…

angles
18th Street looking northwest towards Columbia Road

O’No! The Greatest Restaurant Name of All Time, O’Tasty, Has Closed in Adams Morgan

By Prince Of Petworth

o'tasty
1764 Columbia Rd, NW

“Dear PoPville,

O’Tasty has been closed for a few days and their phone is unanswered. This is one of my favorite spots for cheap and relatively good Chinese food! Would be super bummed to see it close. Any ideas? No signs up in the window…”

I stopped by yesterday and was told by a neighbor that they closed last week. It wasn’t exactly clear why it closed so abruptly but the neighbor thought there may have been a disagreement with the landlord. I will hold out some hope that perhaps the disagreement can be overcome and there will be a resurrection. Because, never mind the quality of the food, this was by far the greatest named Chinese restaurant, no scratch that, the greatest named restaurant period. And for that this is as deep a blow to Adams Morgan as the loss of Cashion’s, Millie & Al’s etc.

IMG_5129

IMG_5130
Columbia Road looking east towards 16th Street

End of an Era – Domku Closing in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

Domku
821 Upshur Street, NW

From a press release:

“Domku Closing After Over A Decade

Rising Real Estate Prices are Pushing Petworth Pioneer Out

After nearly 12 years in business Slavic-Scandanavian inspired Domku, located in Petworth, will close their doors at the end of June. A dramatic rent increase is forcing owner, Kera Carpenter to leave the neighborhood she helped create. Carpenter’s hand was forced by a 66% rent increase on the new lease.

Carpenter opened Domku in January 2005 as an effort to bring vitality to the Petworth neighborhood where she had bought a home a few years before. “When deciding where I wanted to open a business, making a contribution to my own neighborhood was a big factor. I knew it would be more difficult than going to an already establish area. I don’t regret that decision, but now now there is only so much I can do.” (more…)

“La Fourchette has been sold..last day May 31st or June 15th”?

By Prince Of Petworth

la-fourchette
2429 18th Street, NW

At the risk of repeating myself – looks like we have another end of an era for Adams Morgan. In no particular recent order – Millie & Al’s, Mixtec, Pasta Mia, Meskerem, Pharmacy Bar, Toledo Lounge, Crumbs & Coffee, Napoleon Bistro, Locolat, Cashion’s Eat Place and today we add La Fourchette to the mix. Back in September 2014 we first learned La Fourchette was for sale. The price was reduced to $2.6 million in October 2015. Now a reader reports the building has sold:

“La Fourchette has been sold. Apparently to someone who wants to turn it into a Mexican restaurant. last day of operation will be either May 31 (according to Pierre’s wife) or June 15, according to Pierre.”

Updates as more info is learned on an exact closing date and potential replacements.

No longer active but before it came down La Fourchette’s website said:

“Located in the trendy district of Adams Morgan, the longest standing Cafe Restaurant La Fourchette offers its guest an opportunity to experience fine French Cuisine. Since 1978 Chef Pierre Chauvet and hostess Jacqueline Chauvet have been serving guest the authentic taste of France in the heart of Adams Morgan.

La Fourchette opened its doors, after the midst of controversy of riots in Adams Morgan. The first restaurant come back during those hard times, and still we stand 34 years later. Owner and Chef Pierre Chauvet and his wife Jacqueline made the move from La Rochelle, France to build what is the best French Restaurant in Adams Morgan.”

View More Stories