Kennedy Ate Here... but who cares?

from the DCist.

Walking around in Cleveland Park yesterday, I noticed that Yenching Palace had a business closed sign up on the door! While I have heard the rumors and known that Yenching would be closing, I was always hoping that it wouldn't be true. I love that place! The owners were always so nice and were always happy to see me and Gordon order our take out.

It's amazing to me that a place that is so rich in history could be closed down. And for a Walgreen's... when there's a CVS down the street.

Don't know about Yenching Palace? From their menu:

"During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the Yenching Palace was one of the meeting sites of the personal intermediary of President John F. Kennedy and the Emissary of the Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev. It was at the last of these meetings held at the Yenching Palace that final terms were agreed upon which ended the crisis and avoided war."

See. This place was so cool! The food was great (their spare ribs AWESOME) and the staff and owners were super nice! The building itself is pretty - very frozen in time art deco with classical music playing inside.

After reading this article in the Washington Post, it looks like the owners are getting out of the Chinese food business because of health/family stuff. However, they own the building and they'll be leasing it out to Walgreen's. So yay! At least the family will still get money from Walgreen's.

Yenching... I'll miss you!