(Image: Marjorie)
A Capitol Hill community and restaurant industry leader is ending her long run at 14th and Union.
Donna Moodie has confirmed plans that her Caribbean-inspired, “food for the soul” eatery Marjorie is closing this week after 13 years. The restaurant announced last week it would hold a final “end of an era” dinner party Wednesday, March 29th.
Moodie, reached via Community Roots Housing where she also works to lead the organization’s Capitol Hill EcoDistrict efforts, declined to say more right now about the abrupt closure but said she expects more “news” after what she expects to be “a hectic couple of weeks.”
Whether it is a sale to make room for a new concept or simply Moodie winding Marjorie down, Moodie is staying busy in the area — about nine blocks east.
CHS reported here on her plans for the Boujie Bar project joining the mix of food and drink, shopping, and arts spaces from BIPOC and neighborhood businesses in the Midtown Center mixed-use development at 23rd and Union.
Moodie debuted Marjorie at 14th and Union in the spring of 2010 in newly constructed Chloe development at the corner. At the time, Moodie said she was attracted to the opportunity for a long-term deal in the space after losing a lease earlier in her career in Belltown.
A year later, Marjorie would add a new food and drink neighbor in the original Skillet Diner that opened at the corner in 2011.
There are no clues, yet, as to what might come next for the Marjorie space. New development is also reshaping this corner. Across the intersection, the affordable Heartwood mass-timber apartment building is nearing its opening. A jig-saw project on the intersection’s northwest corner will follow.
Born in Jamaica and raised in Chicago, Moodie has said she would trail her mother around the kitchen as a young girl, gaining respect for her “scratch” cooking while using the highest quality ingredients supplied by local merchants and farmers. Moodie opened Marjorie in 2003 in Belltown as an homage to her mother before the move and reopening in 2010.
Now that experience and respect will take a new shape in Moodie’s food and drink ambitions at Midtown Square.
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Marjorie had the best drinks in town. The food was also outstanding. Sad that it is closing.
As a regular customer of your restaurant, I am extremely disappointed and saddened by the sudden closure of your establishment. For many years, I had enjoyed the delicious culinary classics you served and considered your restaurant as a go-to destination for dining out. I only hope continued success in your new ventures.