What's next for Paul Ruppert and Upshur Street

What's next for Paul Ruppert and Upshur Street

Whether you call him the Mayor of Upshur Street, a restaurateur or a savvy businessman, Paul Ruppert has spent years developing retail and restaurants in Petworth, helping to kick off the revitalization of the neighborhood’s reputation and its culinary and literary appetites. With the recent closing of Slim’s Diner and a new owner for Upshur Street books, what’s next for Ruppert?

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Cappy's Crabs gets a new concept and name

Cappy's Crabs gets a new concept and name

Ever since Crane & Turtle closed earlier this year, people have wondered what will be the new restaurant to replace it on Upshur Street. Owner Paul Ruppert opened a short-term concept for Chesapeake seafood called Cappy's Crabs; the plan was for Cappy's to close by Labor Day and for a new idea to open in that space.

That new place is ... 

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Slim's Diner plans to open mid-week

Slim's Diner plans to open mid-week

Slim's Diner, the much-anticipated new restaurant from Paul Ruppert (owner of Petworth Citizen, Upshur Street Books and Cappy's Crabs), is getting ready to open. Read more...

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Cappy's Crabs opens; photos from the launch party

Cappy's Crabs opens; photos from the launch party

Cappy's Crabs, the new incarnation of the former Crane & Turtle located at 828 Upshur St NW, opens Friday, May 27th. I was invited to the launch party and snapped a few pictures so you can see what it looks like. (It's a community service thing.) See a full gallery inside.

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A quick look at Slim's Diner, and an opening date?

A quick look at Slim's Diner, and an opening date?

Paul threw a small party to give an update for people who invested in the Diner to meet the new chef Chris Beasley (formerly of the Mandarin), souz chef Jeremy Riley, and the excellent baker Liza Moran. 

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"Cappy's Crabs" replacing Crane & Turtle... for the summer

"Cappy's Crabs" replacing Crane & Turtle... for the summer

Paul Ruppert sent me a press release earlier today saying that after the pop-ups, Crane & Turtle will become a local crab shack: "CAPPY’S CRABS: A Summer-Only Crab Shack in Petworth." Details...

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What's next for Crane & Turtle? A week of pop-up concepts...

What's next for Crane & Turtle? A week of pop-up concepts...

If you’ve been wondering what’s going to happen with the Crane & Turtle space, now that Chef Makoto Hamamura is set to move to New York, here’s an answer. Well, an answer for a week, anyway.

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Slim's gets an opening date, new 3rd Floor available

Slim's gets an opening date, new 3rd Floor available

I think it's safe to say that Petworth area residents have been waiting in anticipation for the opening of Slim's Diner (4201 Georgia Avenue NW) for quite some time. There were hopes of a Fall opening, then maybe Winter... and now, according to owner Paul Ruppert, if everything goes well with the electrician finishing his work, the diner will open on...

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Crane & Turtle to close in April, Ruppert thinking of what's to come

Crane & Turtle to close in April, Ruppert thinking of what's to come

According to Paul Ruppert, the critically (and customer) acclaimed Crane & Turtle restaurant (828 Upshur St NW) is planning to close on April 24th.  

"Crane & Turtle is so directly tied to [Chef Makoto Hamamura] that we decided it makes sense to create a new restaurant," co-owner Paul Ruppert told me. "Brainstorming ideas right now. Happy to have suggestions."

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Petworth Citizen & DC Reynolds on the Great American Cooking Story

Petworth Citizen & DC Reynolds on the Great American Cooking Story

Local favorites DC Reynolds, owned by Jeremy Gifford, and Petworth Citizen, owned Paul Ruppert, were showcased in an episode of a recent short documentary called The Great American Cooking Story by Clara Ritger. 

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The opposite of a Slim chance: an interview with Paul Ruppert

The opposite of a Slim chance: an interview with Paul Ruppert

You can’t talk about the recent resurgence along Upshur Street in Petworth without mentioning Paul Ruppert. The Ruppert family has lived and owned businesses in DC since the 1890s when his great-grandfather opened up a hardware store. An entrepreneur at heart, Paul has run several successful restaurants in DC since he opened his first one on 7th Street with his mother in 1992. Paul has made a career of opening businesses in areas of DC that are on the cusp of change, and then lending support to those communities. It’s no different with Petworth.  Read more about Slim's Diner and Paul Ruppert, after the break...

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