According to owner Paul Ruppert, Slim’s Diner will close permanently on Sunday, January 13th. He’ll be looking at new ideas for the space. Challenges with revenue on a 45-seat diner and staffing issues led to the decision.

Paul said that they will look at options for the space, whether to bring in a different company to open a restaurant (like he did with Himitsu, who sublet the Crane & Turtle space), or if he’ll open a different concept in the space.

In an email to Petworth News, Paul wrote:

I am very sad that we are shutting our doors. I know that we have all worked hard and tried our best to make Slim’s a successful restaurant. Unfortunately, we don’t bring in enough revenue to cover our costs. I think that competition, staffing challenges and the lower prices at a diner make it difficult to succeed, especially when we only have 45 seats. Our final day is planned for Sunday.

Slim’s has been open for 2 ½ years as a money-losing business. Although things have improved recently, we are not close to breaking even and it is time to pull the plug and try with a new concept.

We'll spend the next few weeks licking our wounds and considering our options - including whether to develop something in-house or work with a new operator. Ideas from the Petworth neighborhood are always welcome.

I am proud of the product that we put out and the service that we offered. I believe that we brought something to our customers that was missing - a casual spot with affordable prices. I am deeply disappointed that we were not successful. But I am optimistic that we will find the right idea for the future.

Thanks, as always, for your support.