Chef Robert Gadsby will no longer open Bacaro Wine Bar in Shaw’s CityMarket at O development.
The landlord has filed a lawsuit against the business, claiming it owes more than $84,000 in unpaid rent, expenses, and other fees from Aug. 13, 2015 to Nov. 1, 2016.
Jeff Edelstein of Roadside Development, which owns CityMarket at O, says the lawsuit is really a “formality,” and they’ve already come to an agreement to part ways and move on.
“His funding fell through,” Edelstein says. “I think Robert’s a nice guy, but ultimately couldn’t complete the project.”
Gadsby did not respond to requests for comment. The British-born chef and one-time Iron Chef contestant used to have two other restaurants in the area: RG’s BBQ Cafe in Laurel, Md. and Gadsby’s Bar American in Columbia, Md. Both are now closed.
Roadside Development is already looking for someone else to take over the 1,200-square-foot space, which neighbors Convivial and Dolci Gelati. “It could be anything from a little restaurant to a cool cocktail bar,” Edelstein says.
CityMarket at O will also add an additional 150 residential units this spring, and the building will include another restaurant along Ninth Street, Northwest.
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
