I attended the U Street Neighborhood Association meeting on Thursday evening and listened to a presentation by Perry Smith of the Matchbox restaurant management team. The Arena Stage building is being renovated as an open concept restaurant that will seat 250 people with an outdoor sidewalk cafe that will seat 50 people.
The restaurant chain has several other locations in Capitol Hill and Chinatown. You can visit their website to view their menus.
Questions from nearby residents centered on parking issues and hours of operation. Perry assured residents that the restaurant will seat its last customers at 10:30 p.m. on weeknights and 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The outdoor cafe will close at 11 and 12 midnight, consistent with others in the neighborhood.
We look forward to the grand opening later this summer.
