Negril Returning to Georgia Ave After Howard Closure

Negril, the family-owned Jamaican spot that has held down Georgia Avenue for decades, is not going far. A fresh sign has popped up a few blocks north of its longtime Howard University perch, hanging over the corner space that used to belong to NuVegan. A peek through the windows shows crews still fine-tuning the inside, but for regulars, the message is clear: patties, jerk chicken, and oxtails are staying within walking distance of the neighborhood that turned Negril into a local fixture.

Signage Appears at 2928 Georgia Avenue NW

As reported by PoPville, Negril signage is now up at 2928 Georgia Avenue NW. A reader who looked through the front windows said the interior still appeared to be under construction. The new sign sits at the former NuVegan address, a short walk north of Negril's original Georgia Avenue location, and follows a wave of "coming soon" sightings that started back in the spring.

Deal Behind the Move

According to a May 2025 press release from Feldman Ruel, the Chinn family, which owns Negril, purchased the 3,172-square-foot corner property for $1.4 million and plans to relocate the Georgia Avenue restaurant there. The firm says the deal keeps Negril on the same corridor even after Howard University's Wonder Plaza redevelopment forced the closure of the restaurant's longtime 2301 Georgia Avenue NW outpost. Feldman Ruel also points out that the existing second-generation restaurant build-out inside the new space should help speed along the opening process.

Negril's Local Roots

Negril dates back to 1979 and highlights its Georgia Avenue lineup of jerk chicken, oxtail, patties, and coco bread on its own site, a reminder of how central this stretch of the city is to the brand. According to Negril's website, the DC location remains listed as the family preps the new storefront. For neighbors who grew up grabbing counter-style takeout and signature patties, that continuity on Georgia Avenue is the whole point.

What Comes Next for the Corner

The corner was most recently home to NuVegan Café, which review sites say shut down in 2024. HappyCow lists the Georgia Avenue outpost as permanently closed as of September 2024. Feldman Ruel's account notes that NuVegan first temporarily closed in February 2024 before ultimately going dark for good. The broker also indicates there will likely be a gap between the closure of Negril's old space and the opening of its new one, and so far neither the firm nor the restaurant has put a public date on when customers can line up at the new counter.