A game bar and brewery in Clarendon closed its doors last week after eight years in business, citing high rent and labor costs.
The Board Room’s last day in business at 925 N. Garfield Street was Thursday, owner Mark Handwerger told ARLnow. A 35-year veteran of the D.C.-area bar space, he said that business never fully recovered from the pandemic and struggled with high overhead costs.
Still, Handwerger expressed disappointment in what he characterized as an abrupt decision with heavy consequences for staff and customers alike. The business was able to pay half its rent in March and none in April, but had attempted to strike a deal with the landlord to stay open for a little bit longer.
Discussions were ongoing, Handwerger said, when the business received its lease termination notice.
“I was informed that we would be locked out after Thursday, [on] Thursday, and you know, that left our staff out in the lurch,” Handwerger said. “Frankly, we had a number of parties on the books, engagement parties, graduation parties — things that are very hard for people to find another location for.”
Property management group Kettler was not immediately available for comment.
The Board Room and its adjacent Ms. Peacock’s Champagne Lounge first joined Clarendon’s bar scene in fall 2017. Handwerger said the location dealt with changes in how young people spend their time and income, especially after the pandemic.
“I will be the first to say that our landlord was very considerate and helpful during that period,” Handwerger said. “We came out of that and things were going fine, and then business just sort of continually decreased.”
Offering board games with an extensive drinks menu, The Board Room occupied the former home of Sehkraft Brewing. Another location in Dupont Circle remains open.
Handwerger is currently working to find new spaces for the private parties customers had previously booked in Clarendon.
In the meantime, the bar’s popular Tuesday night trivia is still on for tomorrow night, but instead will take place at nearby sports bar Mister Days at 1101 N. Highland Street. After this week, the trivia night may potentially relocate to Ballston.
“We hope, in the next couple of weeks, to integrate [trivia] into CarPool’s regular schedule on Tuesday nights,” Handwerger said.
Handwerger is part of Bedrock Management Company, which develops and operates other restaurants including CarPool in Ballston. He said he is unsure what his next plans are, or if he’d ever consider opening a similar business again.
“As far as another bar, I’m not sure, for all those factors I mentioned,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for 35 years in this area, and it’s become a very difficult environment.”
