Society Fair At Risk Of Closing, Seeks Public Help In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Society Fair, a restaurant and food market in Old Town Alexandria, has set up a fundraising effort to prevent it from closing. Without enough contributions, Society Fair will close at the end of the day Friday, Feb. 8.

The GoFundMe page seeks to help pay staff and other immediate expenses and "have some breathing room to re-group."

Society Fair was founded six years ago by Chef Cathal Armstrong, who also owns PX, Eamonn's A Dublin Chipper, Hummingbird and the now-closed Restaurant Eve. Former Restaurant Eve Chef Dan Fisher and his wife Nadine Brown of Charlie Palmer Steak took over ownership over a year ago from Armstrong's Eat Good Food Group.

The owners say the restaurant had been struggling even before it changed hands.

"2018 was a difficult year," states the page. Brown told Washington City Paper that while the new Taco Bell Cantina nearby got plenty of business, Society Fair had "an identity crisis" and tried to do too many services. Staffing turnover hurt the restaurant, and lost business from the federal government shutdown and weather "were like a final one two punch."

While the owners acknowledge Society Fair had been slow to making changes from customer feedback, they say there are "a number of changes on the way." The restaurant brought in some new staff, including a catering/parties manager from Mount Vernon, food and beverage director from the Hilton at Mark Center and wine director/manager from Charlie Palmer Steak.

The fundraising goal is $50,000.

Society Fair consists of a gourmet food market, bistro, bakery, butchery, demo kitchen and catering service. Society Fair is located at 277 South Washington Street, Alexandria.

Image via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner