Present Company Public House, the Mount Vernon Triangle pub tucked inside one of the city's oldest firehouses, will close to the public on May 31. In a brief farewell note, the team cast the decision as another casualty of pandemic-era timing, rising operating costs and changing going-out habits that have reshaped D.C.'s restaurant landscape. The shutdown ends Present Company's run at a storied address that has seen multiple restaurant identities over the years.
Owners' farewell message
In a short message shared with neighbors, the Present Company team admitted, "We've been putting this off for a long time," and thanked staff and regulars for building "a culture of positivity." As reported by PoPville, the note urged customers to swing by before the May 31 last call and to keep supporting the staff who have kept the place running.
A historic firehouse location
The two-story Italianate building that houses Present Company began life as Old Engine Company No. 6 and was added to the District inventory and the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, according to the National Park Service nomination form. The landmark firehouse reopened as a restaurant in 2012 and took on its current identity in 2019, when Present Company Public House replaced Sixth Engine at the address, as documented by Eater DC.
What the space meant to the neighborhood
Present Company billed itself as a neighborhood pub, with a sizable beer list, comfort food and an upstairs event room. The venue's website leans into the old-firehouse charm and its private-event options, but the farewell note made clear that the real heart of the business was the community gathered inside: staff, regulars and small private celebrations that gave the historic space a lived-in feel. When the doors close, the neighborhood loses a familiar hangout that tried to feel like a second living room.
What's next
The farewell message did not spell out what comes next for the firehouse storefront or its event space, and no new operator has been announced. PoPville reproduced the team's closing note and archival photos of the firehouse, noting that May 31 will be the bar's final public day and that the owners are asking the community to come enjoy the space while they still can.
