Post Pub restaurant History

The building that houses the Post Pub was built in the late 1860’s. At that time, it was a tailor shop owned by an influential German immigrant named Frederick W. Imhof. Mr. Imhof, who died in 1916, was also a prominent member of the Concordia Lutheran Church at 20th and G Steeets, N.W.

During the Great Depression, the building at 1422 L Street sat vacant. In 1934, however, a man named Richard Cornwell bought the facility and turned it into a cafeteria. If you use your imagination, you can picture people walking through what is now the back bar area, putting food on their trays and shuffling along. The area where we store our glassware was a pie shelf, and under it is where meat was carved for customers. The Cornwell Cafeteria operated for about 25 years.

In the mid-1950’s, the Cornwells sold the cafeteria to Leo Mulhearn and Ralph Lloyd, who ran the business for a few years before selling it to a man named Savage. Mr. Savage, with a couple of partners, turned the cafeteria into a more traditional restaurant and pub. They ran the business for a few years before selling it to Boyce Wallace in the early 1960’s.

At that time, the pub was known as the Post House Restaurant, named for its close proximity to the Washington Post building. The Washington Post’s downtown building opened in the mid 1950’s. Many Washington Post stories have been written in one of the booths or at the bar. The pub also was a popular watering hole for the Post’s printers, mailers, and union leaders.

The restaurant prospered for many years under the Post House name, but, in the early 1970’s, Trailways Bus Company copyrighted the name “Post House” for the restaurants in their bus stations. Trailways contacted then-owner Boyce Wallace and made him a generous offer to change the name. Mr. Wallace accepted and, in 1974, the Post House became the Post Pub.

In 1976, the Post Pub was purchased by current-owner Bob Beaulieu, a native of Washington, D.C. Bob has run the Post Pub for over 34 years. Photos of family, friends, employees, and customers adorn the walls of the Pub, capturing the essence of the place.

We have many people from all over the world who come to Washington once or twice a year who don’t feel their trip is complete without a visit to the Post Pub. A lot of them say that the Pub reminds them of a bar in their neighborhood. We here at the Post Pub pride ourselves in making customers feel comfortable right away. We thank you for your business and hope to see you again.

Bob Beaulieu Restaurant Bar