This morning, Prince of Petworth reported a rumor that a Ray’s Hell Burger would be opening in the City Vista development at the intersection of 5th and K Streets NW. DCist checked in with Ray’s owner Michael Landrum this morning, who merely said that the report was “premature.” He told us that the process for opening a restaurant can be a years-long one, and that sometimes the public expectation for a quick opening makes things even more complicated.

Case in point: Ray’s the Catch has been delayed for the foreseeable future, so that Landrum can ensure that his other restaurants are up to his standards. When DCist called Landrum this morning, he was perturbed at the flak he’s been getting from hungry residents.

“People are yelling at me on the street for not opening Ray’s the Catch,” he said. “They say, ‘Do you know how much I love seafood?'” Landrum also notes that premature disclosures can often cost entrepreneurs hundred of thousands of dollars in negotiation fees.

While Landrum did not outright deny the possibility of a City Vista Ray’s location, he told DCist that he regularly fields offers from a number of developers. Given the history of proposed restaurants — both from him and numerous other restaurateurs — not opening as planned, nothing can be considered a sure thing until the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed. Or in the case of Wagamama, until the food hits the table.