About DC Restaurant Openings
A guide to the newest places to eat and drink.
Civic on Eighth. 501 Eighth St., SE.
Rhonda Foxx has spent the majority of her career working for Democratic women in politics and even running for Congress herself. She was the National Women’s Engagement Director for the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris campaigns, then built the Persist Network, a digital community for “socially conscious, politically engaged women.” Her work also led her to co-host a couple events with Gloria Steinem—a “transformative” moment for Foxx that got her thinking more about the power of in-person community building.
“I started saying to myself, why don’t we have a physical space? Why don’t we have a Butterworth’s for like-minded individuals?,” says Foxx, referencing the MAGA hotspot. So, she created one: Civic, a Barracks Row “salon,” serving coffee and pastries by day and, soon, cocktails and wine in evenings.
While Foxx has been entrenched in politics—including five years as chief of staff to North Carolina congresswoman Alma Adams—she says Civic itself isn’t meant to be overtly political. “We’re not putting our politics in your face,” she says. “I like to say with this place, if you know, you know.”
But Foxx is overt in using Civic as a way to elevate and showcase women, whether through the art on the walls or the spirit brands used for cocktails. For now, Civic is only open during the day (8 AM to 2 PM) with a menu of tea and espresso drinks using Swing’s Coffee. On Sundays, the cafe will also host an “Equal Grounds coffee residency,” highlighting different woman-led roasters every quarter, starting with DC-based Others Coffee. Pastries, which range from cinnamon swirl buns to brioche bacon-egg-and-cheese rounds, come from woman-owned bakery Souk.
Wines and spirits also predominantly come from female producers, and many of the cocktail names nod to women. In the coming weeks, Civic will launch a daytime cocktail menu with a series of spritzes, bloody Marys, and boozy coffee drinks, such as “Robinson’s Dram”—a reference to the first female president of Ireland, and Michelle Obama’s maiden name. The drink mixes Sexton Irish whiskey (created by a female master blender), coffee, brown sugar, and a sherry-cinnamon foam.
The evening cocktail bar will launch in late spring or early summer. “Fish Out of Water”—made with local Republic Restoratives Dissent Gin—references Ophelia’s Fish House, which once occupied the space. (Foxx’s partner’s family owns the building and the neighboring Chat’s, the oldest Black-owned fine wine and spirits shop in DC.) Foxx also plans to pay homage to her mom with a cocktail called “Laverne’s Libation.” Some small bites and charcuterie will also be available.
The space aims to have a homey feel with comfortable furniture, bookcases, and a communal table “where we invite people to come and have conversations with each other,” Foxx says. Local DJ Farrah Flosscett designed the playlist that spans from Jack Johnson to Aretha Franklin. Lisa Marie Thalhammer—who’s behind rainbow murals around DC—created art for the space, along with other local artists. Foxx also envisions community-building events, from book clubs to yoga on the patio.
“We are trying to create space where people come together and make magic happen,” Foxx says.
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind DC’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
