Farewell To Furin's, A Georgetown Treasure

It's upsetting to write this obituary, because obituaries of treasured Georgetown businesses are becoming too commonplace. It was only last fall that I included Furin's in a New York Social Diary column about the "Washington power breakfast." It belonged there. On any given day it was possible to see Washington power at Furin's, especially for breakfast and lunch but sometimes early supper, too. Four Seasons Hotel guests routinely skipped across the street for a down home meal.

 BERNIE, WENDY AND CHRIS FURIN ON FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2011

And now it is closing. Sunday will be the Furin family's last day on the job. The building has been sold. Ever after, Washington's best pancakes, as well as an awesome club sandwich, will be gone. Chris Furin will continue to make custom cakes (and I hope holiday gingerbread houses) and you can reach him at this email: ChrisFurin, and this website link: CakesbyChrisFurin.

Today my son and I stopped in for a late lunch. It was quiet but steady business. Chris and Wendy said breakfast was packed, and it will be tomorrow and Sunday, too. We compared notes about the closing of Nathans and how that last week was as busy as Nathans was in its heyday. 

I'll miss sitting outside for breakfast or just a cup of coffee with friends like Myra Moffett and Michael Farrell, Aubrey Sarvis, Frances Chastang, and almost always spotting other neighbors, city officials, tourists, and the occasional full-fledged bold faced name. Jill Biden, for example. The stars of "Parenthood." George Will was a regular at the window table. Police Chief Ramsey was in there a lot during his day. 

FURIN'S FRIDAY, JULY 29,  MID-AFTERNOON

I asked today if they know the intentions of the new owners. I'm told they are three men and their plans are "secret," because that's how we do business in Georgetown in this new era of very high stakes rent and mass market enterprise. God, let's hope they understand Georgetown and how things work here, and by that I don't mean NIMBY, but the process of approvals from CAG, ANC, the Old Georgetown Board and the endless permit process. Amateurs always get tripped up by that stuff and then take forever or don't come to fruition at all. My advice: use a local architect. And Good Luck.

In the meantime, do get into Furin's for a farewell pancake. I did procure the secret recipe from Chris, thankfully. 

Where to go now? Well, of course, Baked & Wired for bagels, breakfast cakes and awesome coffee and Georgetown Dinette for terrific sandwiches and burgers. B&W is open until 9 pm, Georgetown Dinette is open until 7 pm. I love 'em both.