Cashion's Eat Place will close on Thursday after more than two decades, following a lawsuit filed by its landlord to evict the restaurant.
The Adams Morgan restaurant owed $69,323 in rent, taxes, and other fees between Dec. 1, 2015 and March 31, according to an ongoing lawsuit filed by property owners Stuart and Susan Auchincloss in D.C. Landlord and Tenant court on April 1.
Chef and partner John Manolatos did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Partner Justin Abad, who stepped away from an operating role in the restaurant in December and is now working with Mindful Restaurant Group, referred questions to Manolatos. "He is responsible for all of those things. I have no permission to comment," Abad says.
The Auchinclosses also did not respond to a request for comment.
Johnny's Half Shell will replace Cashion's Eat Place and close its Capitol Hill location, Politico first reported. The move will be a homecoming of sorts: Johnny's Half Shell co-owner Ann Cashion founded Cashion's Eat Place but sold the restaurant to then-sous chef Manolatos, his brother George Manolatos, and Abad in 2007.
Cashion's Eat Place posted the following farewell message on Facebook:
To our Friends, Neighbors, and Family:
As some of you have already heard, Cashion's Eat Place will be closing our doors after nearly twenty-one years of service. For over two decades it has been our pleasure to be at the heart of the dining scene in Adams Morgan, and we have met and grown to know some truly wonderful people along the way. Unfortunately, we must admit, with heavy hearts, that all good things must eventually end.
We have relished cooking delicious food, pouring fine wine, and helping to raise the bar for hospitality, but even more so we will always cherish the relationships that we have established with our guests, our neighbors, and our vendors. Truly, the people are what make the experience worth living, and we have been fortunate enough to have some of the finest in the city coming through our doors.
We thank everyone who has supported us. We could not have done what we did without you, and we are all grateful for the opportunity to have been part of a truly wonderful restaurant experience. We hope that in the coming weeks, and months, that we can look forward to continue working with you on our new endeavors.
Please stay tuned for final details about our closing, so we can send Cashion's out in style.
Thank you all again. Cheers, and we'll see you tonight!
Sincerely,
The Partners, Managers, and Staff of Cashion's
Sincerely,
John Manolatos, George Manolatos, William Dickett, Justin Abad; Partners Dustin Beruta; General Manager
Cheers and see you all tonight!