L'Auberge Chez François Enters New Chapter In Great Falls

GREAT FALLS, VA — L'Auberge Chez François, the longtime Great Falls restaurant whose roots stretch back more than seven decades, is entering a new chapter with restaurateur Warren Thompson stepping in as steward of the business.

Beginning in September, Thompson, president of Thompson Restaurants and a longtime customer of L'Auberge Chez François and Jacques' Brasserie, will take on the new role with an emphasis on preserving the restaurant's traditions, according to a release. Executive Chef Jacques Haeringer will remain at the helm of the restaurant.

The restaurant said diners can expect its Alsatian menu, staff and overall dining experience to remain largely unchanged.

Restaurant's History Dates To 1954

L'Auberge Chez François traces its history to 1954, when Chef François "Papa" Haeringer, a native of Alsace, France, opened Chez François in Washington, D.C. In 1976, the restaurant moved to Great Falls and became L'Auberge Chez François.

The Great Falls restaurant was designed to evoke the auberges, or country inns, of Haeringer's native Alsace. Over the decades, it has become known for seasonal French cuisine and a countryside setting that has made it a destination for anniversaries, family celebrations and other special occasions.

"For decades, we’ve created exceptional culinary experiences, built on fine cuisine and excellent service. It’s all about the memories people build here, one visit at a time," Jacques Haeringer said in the release. "This next chapter is built around carrying that feeling forward, for the guests who've been coming for decades and the ones just discovering us."

Haeringer said Thompson's familiarity with the restaurant contributed to the decision to entrust him with its future.

"Warren has loved this restaurant as a guest for years, and he understands what makes it special as well as anyone, which is exactly why I trust him with its future," Haeringer said.

Thompson described taking on the role as a personal commitment.

"Being part of this restaurant's story isn't something I take lightly," Thompson said. "As a long-standing member of the community, this restaurant has always held significance to me, long before I ever imagined playing a role in its future."

"Places like this are rare, they become part of how a community remembers itself," he added. "My role now is simple, to help make sure it's here, in the same spirit, for decades to come."

Thompson founded Thompson Restaurants in 1992. The company operates more than 70 locations across Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Ohio and South Florida, according to the release. Its brands include Makers Union, matchbox, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers, Hen Quarter, Milk & Honey and Wiseguy Pizza.

L'Auberge Chez François will continue operating under Jacques Haeringer's culinary leadership and maintaining its Alsatian traditions, according to the restaurant.