Brookland's Finest Bids Farewell After 11 Years of Flavor and Community
Hey everyone, I want to talk about something that hits close to home—especially for anyone who’s spent time in DC's Brookland neighborhood. After 11 heartfelt years, Brookland’s Finest is officially closing its doors this Sunday. If you've ever been there, you know it wasn’t just a restaurant—it was a true community gathering spot. The kind of place where you saw your neighbors not just in passing, but where you actually got to connect. You could walk in and feel like you were part of something.
Owner Tony Tomelden announced the closure earlier this week, and let me tell you, the emotion in his words says it all. He’s poured everything into this place, and it shows. But like many small business owners out there, he’s been fighting an uphill battle. From the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to rising labor costs and even the ripple effects of federal job cuts—it's all stacked up.
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Tomelden got pretty candid in his interview. He said, “We're shutting down here Sunday and it's an incredible neighborhood and it's been very supportive… but the numbers post-COVID and some of the new things in place just aren’t working for us anymore.” It's heartbreaking, especially when you consider how much love and effort went into the place. He pointed out the front windows, still covered in children's drawings—a small but powerful reminder of the family-friendly space they cultivated.
One of the biggest hurdles? Initiative 82, which raised wages for tipped employees to match those of non-tipped workers. While it was meant to protect workers, for small businesses like Brookland’s Finest, it added a lot of pressure to already tight payroll budgets. Tomelden said it flat out— “What you have to do is cut people, and there was nobody I wanted to cut.”
He also mentioned how federal job cuts are affecting foot traffic. It’s that domino effect: fewer jobs means fewer customers, which means less revenue for local spots trying to stay alive. Add to that the growing concern around tariffs driving up prices, and you’ve got a recipe for stress that just doesn’t let up.
As he stood inside the restaurant, looking out those same windows that have seen years of laughter, conversation, and community bonding, he said something that stuck with me: “I see this place closing and I see places like this not being able to get through. It makes me sad and angry.”
This Saturday night, they’ll be holding a farewell party to say goodbye, and Sunday will be their final day of service. If you’ve ever been a part of that space—or even if you haven’t—it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate what these small neighborhood places do for us. They’re not just businesses, they’re lifelines for connection.
So here’s to Brookland’s Finest: thank you for 11 amazing years of food, friendship, and heart. You’ll be missed more than you know.
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