A Greene Turtle affiliate running the Navy Yard location is staring down a default judgment in D.C. Superior Court over unpaid rent at 1237 First St. SE, putting the sports bar’s future in the neighborhood in serious doubt. Court records say rent payments stopped in October, and claims now total roughly $115,600. If the landlord decides to pull the trigger on enforcement, the case could move into full-blown eviction territory.
Court filing details
According to the Washington Business Journal, the default judgment came after the Greene Turtle affiliate failed to answer a complaint from the landlord. The filing reviewed by the outlet says the owner of 1237 First St. SE is seeking nearly $115,600 in unpaid rent, late fees and other costs linked to the lease. The papers allege the tenant stopped paying in October, and when no response was filed, the court awarded a default in favor of the landlord.
License, operator and location
District licensing records show the Navy Yard Greene Turtle operates under Shell Returns, LLC, which holds a Retailer’s Class CR license for 1237 First St. SE. In 2022, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration signed off on a cooperative agreement with ANC 6D for the site, spelling out seating plans, sidewalk-cafe conditions and hours of operation. That ABRA agreement confirms the same business name and address cited in the court documents.
What could come next
Under D.C. Landlord and Tenant procedures, a default judgment is often just the opening move. A landlord can follow it up by asking the court for a writ of restitution, which authorizes removal of occupants if the balance is not paid or a stay is not granted. District of Columbia Courts guidance notes that tenants can still head off a physical eviction by paying the full amount owed or, in some circumstances, by applying for a stay of execution. In practical terms, that leaves the Greene Turtle operator a narrow window to clear the arrears or negotiate a pause before enforcement ramps up.
Pressure on restaurants
The Greene Turtle dispute is landing at a time when restaurant operators across the country are already under heavy financial strain. Industry reports point to high food and labor costs, rising rents and tighter access to capital, all of which have helped fuel an uptick in landlord lawsuits and operator distress in 2025–26. Nation's Restaurant News and other trade publications have tracked a wave of franchisee bankruptcies and closures that make missed rent and litigation far more common than operators would like.
Game-day neighborhood at stake
The Navy Yard Greene Turtle sits at 1237 First St. SE, just a short walk from Nationals Park, in the thick of the game-day bar and restaurant circuit. ABRA’s cooperative agreement for the address notes interior capacity and a sidewalk-cafe endorsement, highlighting why the lease carries extra value in a stadium-adjacent block. Any extended shutdown or changeover at the space would pull a familiar game-day anchor out of the mix, with potential ripple effects for nearby small businesses and the workers who count on those crowds.
For now, court filings and reporting by the Washington Business Journal indicate the case has stalled at the default judgment stage and has not yet moved into active eviction. The landlord still has to decide whether to seek a writ of restitution, pursue settlement talks or take another route in the weeks ahead. That decision will ultimately determine whether the Greene Turtle keeps its Navy Yard perch or makes way for a new tenant.
