The Sad Story of 4221-A Connecticut Avenue

This is a tough block only in the sense that it is on a busy street with virtually no parking, and with no anchor establishment to attract crowds. But the small Chinese restaurant seems to do all right, as does the combination KFC/Taco Bell. But the space next door is an address of problems.

For several years, there was an Indian restaurant there (I have already forgotten the name, but I think it was the Bombay something), which was managed by the former owner of the Peacock and Katmandu restaurants. It was a typical Indian restaurant, with typical Indian food, and typical Indian restaurant decor, and very few customers. We went there a few times, but as the years went on, we went less and less and then not at all. Perhaps, we were not alone in dining elsewhere.

After it closed and stayed vacant a while, a restaurant called Redel's opened. It seemed to be a barbecue restaurant, but you really could not tell what it served, or who it wanted to attract. It was, you would say, non-descript. We never went there; I am not sure if I know anyone who did.

Then one day in the Northwest Current, I saw an article saying that Mr. Redel was really pleased how well his restaurant was doing, but that the was completely revamping its menu, and it would now attract everyone from the neighborhood, because of its new broad choice of selections. Two weeks later, it closed.

And it stood vacant again. Then, a sign went up saying that The Coat of Arms was opening. Again, there was no clue as to what kind of food The Coat of Arms would serve, but the restaurant appeared to undergo some renovation, and in the plate glass window in front, there was a knight in shining armour. Or at leat the shining armour part. It didn't look like it came from a museum, but rather from a costume shop. But nevertheless it was a knight, and it certainly fit in with the name of the place.

I don't think that the Coat of Arms ever opened. If it did, it must have closed within a week, but it stayed there looking like it would open for some time.

Then, there was a big paper sign on the plate glass window (the knight having been removed), which said something like Indian Ocean, Indian cuisine, opening soon. Full circle, I thought. This would be another typical Indian restaurant in a building without parking. I must remember not to invest.

But then, having been out of the city for five days, I drive by and Indian restaurant sign is gone, the knight it still away, but the sign says: Opening Soon, The Coat of Arms, under new management.

Stay tuned.