Custom House Tavern will close this week

Peter Drohomyrecky and Sue Kim Drohomyrecky—owners of Custom House Tavern, Maison and Eggy's—have announced that they are shutting down Custom House for good after tomorrow's dinner service.

CHT has been on something of a roller coaster since January 2010, when it officially parted ways with Shawn McClain, added the word "Tavern" to its name and hired a new chef, Aaron Deal. Deal didn't work out and was quickly replaced by Perry Hendrix, who remains the chef at CHT (until tomorrow, that is) and Maison, and also oversees Eggy's.

I'll paste the entire release below and add only this commentary: This is bad news. Bad news for the Drohomyrecky's, yes—though the fact that they have two new restaurants to focus their energy (and chef Hendrix's) does provide a little solace. Moreover, it's bad news for Printer's Row. Custom House took a chance on Printer's Row when it opened there, and though seven years is a good run for a restaurant, trust me, I work down the block: In recent years, the neighborhood just wasn't filling these seats. Okay, so maybe it just wasn't a good fit, this restaurant and this hood. That happens. Nobody's fault. Still, this leaves Printer's Row with little other than burgers, tacos and pizzas. Both parties deserved more.

The letter from Peter and Sue:

After seven deeply rich and fulfilling years, we have decided that it was time to bid adieu to the Custom House Tavern.   We felt that given the changing demographics of the neighborhood and the needs of the Hotel Blake that the Custom House Tavern concept would need to evolve again and at present, we have decided to focus on our two newest restaurants instead.  

Custom House Tavern’s last service will be Wednesday, October 31, 2012.

We will be as a team focusing on Maison Brasserie and Eggy’s Urban Diner.

Executive Chef Perry Hendrix will continue to lead his teams at both locations as will Executive Pastry Chef Erin Mooney.  

We will be looking to update our menus at both Maison and Eggy’s – and present our guests with additional creative fare.  We will be hosting several events this winter at both locations, including a satellite dinner at Maison for Baconfest.  We hope to be adding dinner back to Eggy’s line up with a newly minted Blue Plate Special focused menu in a few weeks.

We believe that restaurants are living, evolving entities created by the connection of souls by both staff and guests.  The memories that we have shared at Custom House Tavern will enrich our lives and will sustain and inspire us to continue on in our endeavors in hospitality.  

Thank you

Sue and Peter