Quander Family Member Opening New Restaurant 1799 Prime In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A new restaurant with ties to the Quander family called 1799 Prime will start serving steaks and seafood in Alexandria next week.

Wednesday, Aug. 3 is opening day for 1799 Prime, located at 110 S. Pitt Street. This is the former location of Restaurant Eve, Chef Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong's restaurant that closed in 2018.

The 1799 Prime founder and CEO is Jahmond "Jay" Quander of the Quander family, one of America's oldest African American families. According to the restaurant's website, the Quander family's roots in the U.S. go back to the 1670s in Maryland, and part of the family had been enslaved at George Washington's Mount Vernon.

The restaurant name 1799 Prime refers to the date Washington died in 1799. Washington's will requested his slaves be freed upon Martha Washington's death. Martha Washington created a deed of manumission on the first anniversary of Washington's death, and the emancipation of the slaves took effect in 1801. One of those freed slaves was Nancy Carter, who married Charles Quander.

Co-founders Jay Quander and Chef Sonny Tena each bring decades of restaurant experience to 1799 Prime. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, offering a raw bar, steaks, seafood, cocktails, wine and more fine dining selections.

The restaurant will open at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Sunday brunch and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for Sunday dinner.

For more information and reservations, visit 1799prime.com.