First District Location for the Regional Steakhouse Made Possible with District Support
(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty was joined by Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Valerie-Joy Santos, Chef Michael Landrum, and the Ward 7 community to celebrate the grand opening of Ray's the Steaks at East River Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The celebrated steakhouse, owned by Chef Michael Landrum, is opening its first District location in Ward 7 at Minnesota Avenue and Dix Street, Northeast. This location will be the restaurant group's fourth, as it joins Ray's the Steaks and Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington, Virginia and Ray's the Classics in Silver Spring, Maryland.
"The opening of the District's first location of Ray's the Steaks in Ward 7 was the result of successful collaboration between the District and our private sector partners," said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. "With the confidence in this neighborhood of the owner and chef, a dedicated developer, and support from the District, this community can now enjoy a first class restaurant."
Chef Landrum expects to hire between 40 and 50 new employees from the community for this 66-seat location. Eighteen residents from Wards 7 and 8 have already been hired. The restaurant hosted an open house job fair and provides job training.
"Our mission here in Ward 7 is to employ great people from the community to serve great food to great people as a part of serving this great community," said Chef/owner Michael Landrum. "We will be featuring our famous burgers and steaks as well as prime rib and local specialties such as crab cakes and skillet-fried chicken, all at affordable family prices."
The 2,050 square foot restaurant came together through the combination of neighboring retail bays with expiring leases for a wig shop and a small food store in the East River Park Shopping Center. The 10-year lease agreement between developer City Interests of the District and Chef Michael Landrum was supported by the District's Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development with a $70,000 Great Streets grant for upgrades that included: painting of the facade, updating the security gates, the addition of cameras, lighting, and LED signage.
Peter Farrell, principal of City Interests said, "At long last, finally, residents of Ward 7 have the award winning sit-down restaurant they deserve."
At the event, Mayor Fenty proclaimed April 7th "Ray's the Steaks Day".