The Tombs (bar)

The Tombs
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Restaurant information
EstablishedJuly 23, 1962; 62 years ago (1962-07-23)
Owner(s)Clyde's Restaurant Group
Previous owner(s)Richard McCooey
Street address1226 36th Street NW
CityWashington, D.C.
Postal/ZIP Code20007
CountryUnited States
Coordinates38°54′22″N 77°04′14″W / 38.906035°N 77.070443°W / 38.906035; -77.070443
Websitewww.tombs.com

The Tombs is a restaurant and bar located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It was opened on July 23, 1962,[1] by restaurateur and Georgetown University graduate Richard McCooey as the below ground bar or rathskeller for his restaurant 1789.[2] The Tombs is a popular destination for Georgetown University students and alumni, and has been ranked as one of the best college bars in America.[3][4] It is well known for its collegiate rowing-themed interior design, as well as the 99 days club, a competition in which Georgetown seniors aim to eat or drink at the club for all of the final three and a half months of the school year.[5] In 1962, McCooey established the tradition of regular "Chimes Nights" where Georgetown's all-male a capella group, the Georgetown Chimes, would perform in the pub, inspired by the Whiffenpoofs' weekly performances at Yale's local establishment Mory's. The Chimes Night tradition continues.[6][7] The restaurant was named after a fictional establishment mentioned in the poem "Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town" by T. S. Eliot.

The Tombs was purchased by Clyde's Restaurant Group in 1985.[8]

The Tombs has been used as a location in two movies set at Georgetown. One scene in The Exorcist, where Father Karras tells a fellow priest over dinner that he may be losing his faith, was filmed there.[9] In 1985's St. Elmo's Fire, The Tombs serves as the movie's titular bar.[10]

References

  1. ^ Mahoney, Kevin G.; Corallo, Mark C. (1990). "The Social Traditions and Institutions at Georgetown University in the Twentieth Century". In Durkin, Joseph (ed.). Swift Potomac's Lovely Daughter: Two Centuries at Georgetown through Students' Eyes (PDF). Washington, D.C., U.S.: Georgetown University Press. p. 231. ISBN 0878405011.
  2. ^ "Our History". The Tombs. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Hunt, Kristin (14 September 2015). "The 32 Best College Bars in America". Thrillist. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Stanger, Melissa; Robinson, Melia; Browning, Lauren (April 6, 2015). "The 40 best college bars in America". Business Insider. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  5. ^ Sietsema, Tom (September 9, 2022). "The Tombs in Georgetown is a classic college tavern with elevated pub grub". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Del Sesto, Cristina (October 18, 1992). "CHIME TIME". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  7. ^ O'Neill, Paul R.; Smith, Bennie L. (2020). Georgetown University. Arcadia Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 978-1467104661.
  8. ^ Sun, Lena H. (August 1, 1988). "Clyde's a Recipe for Success". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  9. ^ Paschall, Valerie (October 31, 2013). "Mapping the Filming Locations of The Exorcist". Curbed. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  10. ^ Baker, Kathryn (September 15, 2017). "Beneath The Tombs: A Rich Art History". The Hoya. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University. Retrieved July 20, 2023.


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