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José Andrés Closes All His DC Area Restaurants

Photo by José Andrés via Facebook
José Andrés
José Andrés

“We are doing this for the right reasons. We need to take care of our employees, we need to take care of our guests for their safety, more importantly we need to take care of every one of you,” José Andrés said in a video posted to Twitter. “We cannot just keep going like this is not gonna happen to us.”

Known for his philanthropic work providing meals to communities in the wake of natural disasters, the celebrity chef said Sunday he is closing his D.C. restaurants and urged others to do the same as the coronavirus outbreak spreads.

He said the move is necessary in order to mitigate the global coronavirus pandemic, which is rapidly spreading across the U.S.

“We need to be joining the NBA, need to be joining closings of other venues that are doing the right call ahead of everybody. We cannot stay much longer with restaurants open or we will only be part of the problem when we need to be part of the solution,” Andrés said.

Andrés, who founded the nonprofit World Central Kitchen, which provides meals to areas hit by natural disasters, said several of his D.C. restaurants will be converted into community kitchens to provide basic needs s amid the pandemic.

The community kitchens will have take-out windows for people to pick up food, he said.

Andrés also said that all of his employees will be paid for the next two weeks, adding that closures will be hard on small businesses.

“I've been here 26 years moving this company forward and plan to be here 25 more years ahead, and I know I will only be able to do this with the men and women next to me,” he said. “We’re going to be finding every way to be next to them to make sure that together we go through this complicated time.”

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  • America Eats Tavern, Georgetown: A community kitchen will operate from the back upstairs patio.
  • China Chilcano, Penn Quarter:  Due to the lack of outdoor space at the restaurant, a community kitchen will not be available.
  • Jaleo, Bethesda: A community kitchen will operate from the side door.
  • Jaleo, Crystal City: A community kitchen will operate from the side door.
  • Jaleo, Penn Quarter: A community kitchen will operate from the side door.
  • minibar and barmini, Penn Quarter: The restaurant and bar both closed following the end of service on March 14. A community kitchen will not be available. Guests with existing reservations will be contacted to rebook, and deposits will be refunded.
  • Oyamel, Penn Quarter: A community kitchen will operate from the side door.
  • Zaytinya, Penn Quarter: A community kitchen will operate from the side door.
  • Beefsteak, Dupont, Foggy Bottom & Montgomery Mall: Our D.C.-area fast-casual locations will offer delivery only, available via our website.
  • Pepe Food Truck, D.C.: Will remain in operation, check here for current location.

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