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| via Petworth News |
After six years, Petworth Citizenwill close its doors on February 1st, according to owner Paul Ruppert.
“Over the years we’ve been proud to be a gathering spot for our neighbors, who became our friends,” says Ruppert. “I am sad to see the end, but am excited about what is coming next. I am grateful to the Petworth community for all of the support of Petworth Citizen over the years.”
But it’s not all bad news. Petworth News reports that neighboring Loyalty Bookstore is planning to takeover the space to create a larger restaurant, bookstore, and bar. Owner Hannah Oliver Depp plans to merge 829 & 827 Upshur storefronts into a unique literary and dining space, merging many aspects of the two businesses.
“We’re rethinking the 829 and 827 spaces,” Depp said. “My dream concept is a bookstore / bar. It’s been done before, but we’re hoping for something more fluid and integrated and less partitioned out with ‘this space is for books, this space is for the bar,’ that kind of thing. Our plan is for Loyalty to have an integrated concept with the new restaurant and bar. More like an expanded version of the Reading Room, mixing programming with the bar.”
Citizen’s Paul Ruppert tells the DCistthat the concrete designs for the project are still in the works, but that the restaurant will feature new food and drink. He promises that “books will be a part of it all,” and Petworth News reports that Citizen’s mixologist Chantal Tsang will continue her long-running Literary Cocktails series in the new space.
While we are sad to see Petworth Citizen go, we are excited to see what Depp will bring to the neighborhood!
