Beloved Washington Bar to close after 15 years of business
Another iconic Washington, D.C. bar, well-known for its artisanal cocktails discreetly served behind an unmarked entrance along 14th Street NW, is set to shut its doors.
The Gibson, which has been a fixture for 15 years, is scheduled to cease operations on January 1. Owner Eric Hilton, in a press release, described the decision to close as a challenging one and mentioned that he is contemplating the possibility of reopening it in a different location. The news was also broken by a local journalist on Twitter.
Having first welcomed patrons in 2008, The Gibson was among the city’s original speakeasies, predating the trend’s subsequent proliferation and decline. Located in the U Street Corridor, the establishment required guests to embark on a quest to locate its unmarked door (which was painted black) but rewarded them with creative libations like the Chuck Brown, featuring a blend of Old Overholt rye and Belle Meade sour mash bourbon, complemented by honey, pamplemousse liqueur, lemon, and angostura bitters.
The Gibson served as a blueprint for numerous other clandestine bars, both obscure and more visible, that followed in its footsteps. Some of these include Harold Black on Capitol Hill, the covert bar nested within Capo Italian Deli, and others. The dimly lit, multi-level atmosphere of The Gibson earned it admiration within the local bar and restaurant scene, attracting talent from similar establishments like José Andrés’ barmini, as well as the now-closed Espita and Columbia Room. Patrons cherished the bar for its intimate ambiance and signature Sazerac cocktail.
In recent months, The Gibson joins a list of other local haunts that have also shuttered, including the city’s trailblazing tiki bar, Archipelago, and the H Street Country Club. Unfortunately, Eric Hilton was not immediately available for an interview, but DCist/WAMU will provide updates if he becomes accessible.
The Gibson plans to bid farewell with a New Year’s Eve farewell party. Tickets are expected to be released shortly after Thanksgiving.
