Toby Keith's Restaurant in Stonebridge Abruptly Closes (eat, office)

[stpickrell]

Originally Posted by car54

"Him" has nothing to do with the operation of these restaurants. They just pay him to use his name.

That's why I said he should have been more careful who he licensed his name to. This could impact future ventures as most of the customers actually believed that he runs the joints and now they "know" he can't run a restaurant. Maybe he should try oil change places next?

I just wanted an excuse to make a snarky post with his song titles in it.

It could probably be edited thus:

It's a little too late for him to find better licensees for his restaurant, unfortunately. This experiment has probably created some angry Americans, but I suspect he might try to license another restaurant somewhere else (maybe not in the DC area) with new management so people can enjoy drinks after work. But -- the new managers will need to have a little less talk and a lot more action to improve customer service and food quality.

[DC_Geographer]

Originally Posted by roninsedge

Joe Theisman's is still going strong. It was the go to place for my office in Carlyle till Sweet Fire Donna's opened up. Not sure how they are gonna do now that more bars are opening up at Carlyle.

I go in to Joe Theisman's all the time. They've got pretty good food for a sports bar in my opinion. A little pricey, not bad though. The get a lot of weekly business from being right across the street from the metro and a VRE station.

The Mayor of Alexandria (Bill Eullie) hangs out at the bar there all the time...

[spencgr]

I'm a little shocked that there are four pages about some sh**ty restaurant that went under. Doesn't that happen all over the region daily?

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I'm a little shocked that there are four pages about some sh**ty restaurant that went under. Doesn't that happen all over the region daily?

For some reason people are very interested in this place. I remember when it opened up, it got so much hype. I was really shocked to hear that it shut down. I of course never went there but I knew it had to be pretty bad to shut down as quick as it did.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Margery

Hey, I still remember Sonny Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer.

Same here. Although it's Cowboys all the way for me. Go Roger Staubach.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I'm a little shocked that there are four pages about some sh**ty restaurant that went under. Doesn't that happen all over the region daily?

This particular establishment had a custom build and took a LONG time to open. Not only was it touted as a restaurant but was supposed to be a big entertainment venue. It has your typical restaurant seating, a fairly large dance floor and an open dining area where, I suppose, the staff or entertainers could break out into a line dance or walk through the dining part. There was also a stage. So, it was more than just a place to eat.

So, I really hate country music but have a friend who I don't see much who loves it. We planned a lunch one day and met him there. Wow...worst food ever. The menu was so unappealing that I ended up ordering chicken tenders and fries thinking, while not good, it was safe. That was mistake. I didn't think fried chicken fingers could actually be ruined and awful, but they were.

The waitresses all seemed to be very miserable. And I guess I'm being "catty" here but they were dressed in the usual "country" attire (Daisy Dukes and a black tank top) they all looked like they needed a good shower.

When it first opened, I know that my daughter and some of her age group who like country bands would go later at night for the "bar" scene and it was okay for that. But apparently that wasn't enough to sustain them.

[car54]

Originally Posted by DC_Geographer

I go in to Joe Theisman's all the time. They've got pretty good food for a sports bar in my opinion. A little pricey, not bad though. The get a lot of weekly business from being right across the street from the metro and a VRE station.

The Mayor of Alexandria (Bill Eullie) hangs out at the bar there all the time...

I've never been to Joe T's but they must be doing something right. It's got to be close to 40 years it's been open. That's saying something.

My sister and I have a few restaurant sites in our commercial properties and one thing we've learned about restaurant start-ups.....get the rent in advance!

[PK12]

Originally Posted by roninsedge

Joe Theisman's is still going strong. It was the go to place for my office in Carlyle till Sweet Fire Donna's opened up. Not sure how they are gonna do now that more bars are opening up at Carlyle.

Theisman's has a decent bar, but as far as the food is concerned, I've had a couple of pretty crappy experiences there.

Sweet Fire Donna's is legit, and a small yet really nice bar with a limited yet excellent beer selection

[stpickrell]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I'm a little shocked that there are four pages about some sh**ty restaurant that went under. Doesn't that happen all over the region daily?

I'm just here for the bad jokes.

[Lemming95]

I think it will do a world of good for Firebird and Not your Average Joe's to not have that bar on the plaza. Shouting matches and people hanging out and pacing. The outdoor patios will be much nicer without the distraction.

The Landing restaurant down by the river off Rt 1 Woodbridge has changed hands. They didn't make it through their first year-hope the new restaurant there does better.