After six years in business, Upshur Street’s book-themed restaurant and bar Petworth Citizen will be closing its doors. The laid-back, lounge-style eatery will end its service on February 1, but the Petworth community won’t have to completely say goodbye to dining and drinking with a side of literature.

Paul Ruppert, owner of Petworth Citizen and Upshur Street Books and owner of the now-closed Slim’s Diner, told Petworth News that the vacant space left by Citizen’s departure will merge with Loyalty Bookstore next door. Hannah Oliver Depp, owner of Loyalty Bookstore, tells Petworth News that the plan will be to make the bookstore, bar, and restaurant portions of the business as integrated as possible. The project will take about two months to complete, according to the site.

Ruppert tells DCist via email that the concrete designs for the project are still in the works, but that the restaurant will feature new food and drink. He promises that “books will be a part of it all,” and Petworth News reports that Citizen’s mixologist Chantal Tsang will continue her long-running Literary Cocktails series in the new space. Tseng declined to comment for this story.

“Small businesses that are locally owned that are truly the heartbeat of the community is what I think drives all communities in D.C., and Petworth Citizen certainly was that,” says Andrew Dana, co-owner of Timber Pizza, Petworth Citizen’s Upshur Street neighbor. “I think the more businesses, the merrier, so I hope more stuff opens and more locally owned businesses continue to just make that a really vibrant strip and one of the coolest neighborhoods in D.C.”

While the Washington Post dubbed Upshur Street “the best place to eat in D.C.” in 2017, a few of the restaurants and businesses that earned the area acclaim have closed up shop in the past two years. Ruta del Vino, a Latin American bar, closed near the end of 2018 after two years. A short while later, Hank’s Cocktail Bar announced that it would be leaving its storefront and moving into a shared space with its sister location in Dupont Circle. Lulabelle’s, a small bakery and coffee shop, also closed temporarily for “reorganization” and “reconfiguration,” and reopened last January. That same month, Slim’s Diner shut it doors.

The street has also seen new businesses open since that downturn (which some business owners attributed to a lack of foot traffic): Barbecue and bourbon joint Cinder took the place of Ruta del Vino, and cocktail bar Dos Mamis moved into the Hank’s space. Acclaimed spot Himitsu, meanwhile, has transitioned into colorful new restaurant Pom Pom.

Ruppert says that declining revenue over the years demonstrated a need to invigorate the neighborhood and offer something new.

“Petworth is still a strong market,” Ruppert tells DCist. “Upshur Street is a great place to open a small business. The Petworth community is one of the most dedicated in the city.”