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Bullfeathers Closing (Sort of)

July 28th, 2010 by Nichole Remmert · 12 Comments · Capitol Hill

Image courtesy Bullfeathers

Bullfeathers, located at 401 1st Street SE, has been a Capitol Hill mainstay since 1980. Although I think of it as mainly a staffer hangout, I know quite a few locals who are fans as well.

Bullfeathers as we currently know it will be closing, but the legendary name will remain. The new Bullfeathers will be owned and operated by our friends from Tunnicliff’s (and Stoney’s) and will hopefully be open again in September.

Tunnicliff’s Andreas Arethas said that the new place will, “have the same neighbor-y feel like Tunnicliff’s has, and the same late-night young crowd like Stoney’s on P Street gets.” The menu will be more like Stoney’s than Tunni’s and the hours will be extended to 2 am weekdays and 3 am weekends.

Andreas said that the inside hasn’t been updated in 25 years, so they’re going to spend the next month freshening up the look.

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  • Happy Neighbor

    This is such good news! We live around the corner from this place and have attempted to make it our hangout many times- only to be dissuaded by poor service and food. They also never clean up their patio at the end of the night, making our late night dog walk an obstacle course to avoid the broken glass and cigarette butts… We’re looking forward to the new ownership!

  • E

    I hope they fire all the waitstaff and bartenders! Bad service since I moved to the Hill in 2001. I love the service at Tunni’s so I’m excited!

  • ET

    I have never eaten there but I am sure it will do OK if for no other reason than the location. Since I have had nothing but so-so food and absolutely horrendous service at Tunnicliffs, I will continue skipping both places in the future.

  • CL

    Not to mention that agregious bald guy that comes in from time to time in miscellaneous black tshirts talking of “sexy coffee” and stinking the joint up.

  • Gary

    The waitstaff there is great. You just have to accept them for the aholes they are.

  • mappo

    Strange that they think they know what kind of clientelle they will attract. Unless they’ve invented a powerful new Congresscritter repellent, it will still be a staffer bar.

  • http://www.sean.com Sean

    Love this bar. Sad to see it go.

  • Peter Buchanan

    well, some people will miss the old Bullfeather’s … I, for one, loved the place and will sorely miss it. I doubt the new ‘Bullfeathers’ will be a patch on the old one. Thanks all for the many, many happy times there… Peter Buchanan

  • JU

    Too bad – it was an institution, but hey, the service sucked (especially on the patio). I was there last weekend and it took 20 minutes just to get an order in with about five tables actually occupied. Hope they fix that and maybe a paint job. Leave the rest untouched.

  • w

    Thank the heavens! While it had a great hometown feel the place was a wreck. The service was horrible and the bar tenders are A holes – unless you just happen to be friends with them. The food sucked, service sucked and it always smelled like sh!# becuase the toilet was always broke. Good luck to the new owners. Demolish it is what I say start new.

  • Nicodemus

    Well I guess the place made money all these years in spite f its self. Ya got to feel for the old man though. He did what any Greek would do; pass his business on to his sons. But unfortunately for him those POS sons looked at working the family business more as a chore than an honor. And so it went, the brothers spent more time sexually harassing any attractive staff or ripping off regulars and tourist rather than coming up with ideas to grow and market the business they had been blessed with. Ever wonder why the place never had a hot bartender or waitress that stayed?? Combine that with the fact that they both roamed the streets of Bethesda like they owned the place racking up misdemeanors and felonies along the way. Costing the family ever more money in layer fees and court costs. Now the poor schmuck in a pickle and has to let the place go. Let’s hope this new batch of Greeks has a better staff and family than the last! Only time will tell.

  • Scotty

    One of the sons trashed the business at the Gaithersburg location before it was sold. The new owners made a valiant try but never had a chance. The reputation was ruined before they took over.