J. Paul's In Georgetown Will Close In 2018

GEORGETOWN, DC — A Georgetown dining staple is closing its doors for good at the end of the year.

J. Paul's, which debuted on M Street NW in 1983, has been a favorite for residents and tourists alike. Those who've walked past the watering hole can't miss its wood-lined exterior and oyster display.

As the company puts it, the bar "boasts a 100-year old mahogany shotgun bar built by the Brunswick Balke Coolander Company. This iconic bar was previously housed in a grand saloon in the Chicago stockyards and many will swear over their scotch that Al Capone himself bellied up to that very bar. Iconic antique brass elevator doors from New York’s Waldorf Astoria frame the back dining room and add to the turn-of-the-century charm."

The restaurant's founder, Paul Cohen, made the announcement Sunday on Instagram. In the post, however, Cohen did not say what date J. Paul's will close.

"Family and Friends it has been a great run! Many great laughs, crazy busy nights, and meeting great people from all over the world here at J. Paul's," Cohen wrote. "However, it saddens me to let you all know we will be closing J. Paul's for good at the end of the year."

For some, J. Paul's was a place to grab a drink and a bite to eat. For others, the saloon has been a crucial part of their lives.

On its website, there is a dedicated space for patrons to write about their favorite J. Paul's memories.

"My then-girlfriend was a waitress at J. Paul's when we met in 1993," Paul Legrady said. "She told me that she got a free meal for one guest each night, and while I enjoyed sitting at the bar, enjoying a great meal, it wasn't until years later that I found out that she picked up the tab herself. I returned the favor for her 30th birthday, a few years after we got married. I threw a surprise party for her in the room upstairs. That was in 2000. J. Paul's has been a big part of our lives for the past 15 years."

Georgetown's Business Improvement District said they did not have specifics about the space's future.

Image via Shutterstock

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Georgetown Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook.)