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Market Inn to Close This Month
Restaurant lease negotiations strike again. This week's victim: Market Inn, an institution in Southwest Washington since 1959. The restaurant was unable to negotiate a "reasonable" lease with the property owners and will close its doors for good after service on Dec. 31.
End of an era: Market Inn closes on New Year's Eve. (Larry Morris/The Washington Post)
"I'm gonna miss it big time," said general manager Michael Kipp. "It still hasn't sunk home with me. Most of the [staff has] been here 25, 35 years. There's a lot of depression." Kipp, who has worked at the restaurant since age 16, plans to move on after the restaurant shutters, but don't expect another Market Inn to pop up in a new location. The owner, Kipp says, is calling it quits.
The restaurant was popular with federal workers during the day, hotel dwellers at night and neighborhood residents on the weekend, says Kipp. The restaurant's champagne-jazz brunch was a perennial favorite, earning a spot on our Best Brunch Special list.
Market Inn plans to go out with a bang, hosting a three-day New Year's Eve seafood and beef buffet. Call the restaurant or visit its Web site to make reservations.
-- Julia
By
Julia Beizer
| December 11, 2008; 12:55 PM ET
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Restaurants
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Posted by: EricS2 | December 12, 2008 3:52 AM | Report abuse
popular with neighborhood residents? Huh? There are no neighborhood residents near the Market Inn, just office buildings.
Posted by: eomcmars | December 18, 2008 2:55 PM | Report abuse
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As an occasional customer of the place, I will completely and totally not miss it in the least. That area can do far better than that dump. They can dress it all they want to and price it up as much as they want to, but it was no better than Bob Evans when it comes to the food and a heck of a lot pricier. Good bye.