HAMBURGER HAMLET CLOSED: THE END (PHOTOS)

I was a witness to a moment in Bethesda history Friday night. As many of you are now well aware, the legendary Hamburger Hamlet restaurant has now closed due to bankruptcy. The restaurant had been in the Georgetown Square shopping center since 1973.

It had been mentioned that Hamburger Hamlet would close sometime this past weekend, after the online auction of the restaurant's physical assets closed Friday. In the process of Christmas shopping, I happened to pass by Georgetown Square twice Friday evening. Around 9 PM, the restaurant appeared to be open, and the OPEN sign was lit. On my way back from Rockville to Bethesda, I passed by again, around 11:00 PM. For the first time in a year, the 24-7-365 OPEN sign was extinguished (the restaurant had been open 24 hours a day since HH partnered with Du-par's last December).

By Saturday, Hamburger Hamlet was officially closed forever, as you can see in these photos. Hopefully Georgetown Square can find an exciting new restaurant tenant for the space soon.

Signs in the front window read,
"CLOSED LOST LEASE"

The famous block letter
Hamburger Hamlet sign

The bar, with interior columns
still trimmed for Christmas

These retro doors have closed
for the last time

HAMBURGER HAMLET NAME FADES INTO BETHESDA HISTORY WITH BANKRUPTCY, LIQUIDATION AUCTION

EXCLUSIVE!

Bish Thompson's, O'Donnell's, Swenson's, Hot Shoppes, Little Tavern... all legendary names in Bethesda dining history. Today, all are just that: history.

Add one more venerable name to the list this Friday:

Hamburger Hamlet.

The burger brand name that has adorned the Georgetown Square Shopping Center since 1973 is taking a final curtain call.

Around this time last year, Hamburger Hamlet had teamed with California chain Du-par's as a joint, 24-hour restaurant venture. A few months later, the Hamburger Hamlet chain quietly filed for bankruptcy. The Bethesda Hamburger Hamlet business (not the restaurant space itself, for which the lease runs out in 2023) was sold to an unknown buyer on October 30 of this year, according to an online listing. Du-par's Hamburger Hamlet was still open as of Sunday morning, and there is no official word that it will close yet. But by this Friday, "everything must go!" Dining room tables, chairs, booths, banquettes, kitchen equipment, food storage, waiters' trays, restroom toilet paper and soap dispensers; you name it, it's up for auction. 

This leaves the future of Du-par's Hamburger Hamlet in doubt. An employee who answered the telephone Sunday confirmed the Hamburger Hamlet name will be dropped, and that the name will be changed to simply, Du-par's. He said new exterior signs would be installed.

How the renamed restaurant would operate with no tables and chairs, or basic kitchen and restroom equipment was unclear. It certainly raises skepticism, but it is certainly possible they could close briefly, and install all new furniture and equipment. It's interesting to note that the prominently-placed refrigerator case that holds the famous Du-par's pies and baked goods is not among the items up for bid. Was Du-par's the buyer of Hamburger Hamlet?

On the other hand, the Capitol Online auction website states that "Hamlet is shutting its [sic] doors."

So stay tuned, but what I can confirm this morning is that the Hamburger Hamlet name is officially history in Bethesda.

HOSTESS PRODUCTS VANISH FROM BETHESDA SHELVES!

The demise of Hostess has sent Bethesda shoppers into a frenzy, snapping up the remaining supply of cakes, pies, and Wonder Bread from grocery shelves across town.

Hostess section at Bethesda Row
Giant Saturday night

Arlington Road Safeway

Hostess going out of business is unthinkable. A world without Twinkies and Wonder Bread?  Inconceivable. Is this a conspiracy masterminded by Michael Bloomberg?

Why wasn't Hostess too big to fail?

Ultimately, the end of Hostess was a major backfire and Pyrrhic victory for all involved.  I hope the union is satisfied; their 18,500 employees now have no jobs for Christmas.  Despicable.

As for the Food and Fun Police? They're surprising losers in this episode, too.  They said Hostess was failing, because Hostess Haters had convinced America to leave their cream-filled vices behind.  Instead, the mad run on Hostess documented in these photos proves Americans are still crazed about Ding Dongs.  The empty shelves prove the Fun Police have little public support, and should make a belated return to minding their own business.  Heckuva job, guys.

The Hostess name and brands are too beloved to stay gone for good. Fruit Pie the Magician and good old-fashioned Wonder Bread will be back on shelves before you know it.

Twinkie the Kid will ride again.