E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial may have lost his Van Ness home.
The Burger King at 4422 Connecticut Avenue, distinctive (and some say “legendary”) for its rock ‘n roll and 80s and 90s movie decor closed abruptly over the weekend. Our readers and Redditors spotted signs on New Year’s Day stating that the closure is permanent.
The closure was so abrupt that this sign was placed next to a sign with the location’s New Year’s Day hours.
We’ll believe it when E.T., his friends and the restaurant’s other distinctive decor are dismantled and removed (or when franchisee Potomac Foods Group responds to our request for comment). Our reason? The Burger King location was threatened with closure – or threatened to close – three times in the past seven years, yet it persisted.
Chick-fil-A announced plans in 2015 to open its own drive-thru restaurant at the site. (That attempt fell through, but the chain will be opening a kiosk at the UDC Student Center in the coming weeks.)
In 2018, Mark James, the vice president of operations at Potomac Foods, sent ANC 3F a letter stating that the site had become too expensive due to renovations required by Burger King corporate, and parking lot repaving and stormwater mitigation required by the District. Somehow, the restaurant rallied and in January 2020, James told the ANC that this “shrine to 80s and 90s cinema” would undergo an extensive interior and exterior renovation.
But in March 2021, after some back-and-forth with ANC 3F about the parking lot repaving, James again wrote to commissioners to say that the business would “have to say goodbye.”
The sun sets on the Van Ness Burger King on January 1, 2023.
The quirky Van Ness Burger King was the only one left in the District that’s open to the public. The other BK is in southeast, at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.
Robert says
Noooo!! Between Uptown Market/restaurant closing and now this, unfortunate closures
Donna says
I’m not sad about Burger King closing because the manager never honored my coupons and she seem cold .
Barbara says
Looking for an explanation as to why our neighborhood of apartment dwellers and rowhouse/townhouse/single family homes cannot support a comfortable family restaurant like I’m Eddie Cano or Marx Cafe, or a coffee/sandwich shop? What needs to change?
Anonymous says
The fact that minimum wage laws in DC continue to increase is undoubtedly contributing to all these closures. High rents, more choices than ever before makes doing small business in DC virtually impossible.
Barbara Kraft says
Thank you for this. My sense is many of us can afford the higher prices that might be a consequence of higher minimum wage. When you refer to choices, do you mean consumer choices or business owner choices? As a consumer, I see my choices dwindling.
Anonymous says
100% consumer choices. How many cafes in a mile radius. Bread Furst, Uptown, Starbucks, etc. and big box grocery stores now. Moms, wegmans, giant, cvs, The choices are there.
Barbara Kraft says
Guess I’m thinking of restaurant choices and the fact that there’s so much unused/underutilized space in Van Ness/N. Cleveland Pk. . I do value greatly Giant and CVS within walking distance of my house. Thanks.
Chauncy says
The BK down from my place on Florida Avenue closed, then the one by the Arena on 5th Street closed, now this one. Only one left is off Rhode Island on Uber Eats .
Green Eyeshades says
Call Your Mother bagel bakery is opening in the Little Red Fox space!
https://dcist.com/story/23/01/03/call-your-mother-open-little-red-fox/
Preston Triggs says
Will miss this Burger King. I went to this Burger King on a weekly basis when I lived at 4700 Connecticut Ave NW. A nice little walk. Service and Food were always Great.