Photo by La Tur.

It was with a sad heart that 14th Street area residents, like me, learned that HR-57 was closing its location at 14th and Corcoran Streets NW after nearly 20 years. However, I was glad to learn that the jazz club was relocating to H Street NE because of cheaper rent. The new HR-57 was supposed to open in January. However, it’s February and there has been no movement at their supposed new location at 816 H Street NE and owner Tony Puesan isn’t saying why.

Washington City Paper’s Michael West has reached out to Puesan, as well as other HR-57 staffers, about the state of the new location. He hasn’t heard anything back. There was a liquor license hearing for the new location on January 24, but no transcripts have been published on the ABRA website.

As West points out, it could be the typical bureaucratic slowdown that is delaying the opening of the new HR-57, but it is a little disconcerting that owners that had at one point been so open about their plans are now mum. Let’s hope HR-57 gets everything sorted out soon and opens up their new shop on H Street.