Market Too Steep for Market Inn Restaurant closing doors after 50 years

By  TOM SHERWOOD

Updated 6:44 PM EDT, Wed, Dec 31, 2008

The Market Inn, a seafood restaurant and lounge open in southwest Washington since 1959, is closing Wednesday night after one last New Year's Eve dinner and celebration.
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The Market Inn, a seafood restaurant and lounge open in southwest Washington since 1959, is closing Wednesday night after one last New Year's Eve dinner and celebration.

 

WASHINGTON -- The Market Inn, a seafood restaurant and lounge open in southwest Washington since 1959, is closing Wednesday night after one last New Year's Eve dinner and celebration.
 

Market Inn Closing Doors After 50 Years

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The Market Inn, a seafood restaurant and lounge open in southwest Washington since 1959, is closing Wednesday night after one last New Year's Eve dinner...

For decades the Market Inn at Second and E streets was a popular meeting spot for congressmen, federal workers and tourists. Its crab soup was featured in recent years on the Food Network.
 
Elizabeth Mandis, daughter of restaurant founder John Mandis, who died in 1972, told News4 that the family's single, 50-year lease has run out and the family could neither buy the building nor afford the huge rent increase that was looming. Building owners plan to redevelop the one-story property into an office building.
 
The multi-room restaurant is filled with Washington memorabilia -- including a 1957 Eisenhower inaugural license tag and black and white photos of the Washington Redskins -- much of which will be auctioned online by Rasmus Auctioneers.

Comments (8)

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  • kevin Sunday, Jan 18 at 12:07 PM FLAG COMMENT more of the same corporate greed and money grubbing suits that can't see the forest through the trees....I have never been there, but know the sad story of historic beauty that is washed away by the elite few.
  • Anonymous Thursday, Jan 15 at 10:31 AM FLAG COMMENT Loved the Market Inn as well. Deeply sorry the family didn't purchase the land the restaurant occupied for all those years. It leaves the area without a quaint palatable full service restaurant and adds more hungry workers that will have no place to take guests for a delicious lunch, after work dinner or a classy happy hour spot. Market Inn staff and management, you will be missed.
  • Otto Keesling Friday, Jan 2 at 8:17 AM FLAG COMMENT What a great place after the "Skins" games. It will be missed
  • Sharon M. Wednesday, Dec 31 at 11:42 PM FLAG COMMENT Being a Washington native, I had myfirst family seafood dinner at Market Inn when I was five (1962). Your lobster bisque was a real treat and will be truly missed. The Market Inn was my father's and husband's favorite spot and its the place where we brought all of our friends and family every Father's Day. D.C. will forever miss you. Thanks for everything!
  • Monica Wednesday, Dec 31 at 11:24 PM FLAG COMMENT Having worked on 3rd Street, SW since 2003 - Market Inn was a great place for lunch with friends and colleagues. Your Lobster Bisque is the best and will be greatly missed.

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