The Garrett's Story

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Garrett's Restaurant and Railroad Tavern Blurbe Historicae

The Garrett's building, 3003 M St., was built in 1794 by Charles Magruder and sits on an ancient Republican burial ground. The style of this building, and those adjacent to it, is of the Federal period, which is known for its parlor fireplaces and dormered windows on the roof. In some of the walls you can still see brickwork and rough-cut timber used in the original construction.

Thomas Sim Lee bought this house for his winter residence in 1801, after serving two terms as Governor of Maryland. Two of his cousins, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, signed the Declaration of Independence; and another cousin fought in the Civil War under the nom de guerre of Robert E. Lee. Thomas Sim Lee was Director of the Potowmack Company, which was responsible for the construction of the C & O Canal. He was also a leader in the Federalist Party, which sometimes held meetings here.

Thomas Sim Lee's wife, Mary Digges, often served hot buttered rum to keep the Federalist Party meetings from becoming dull and pompous. Sometimes, late at night, her spirit can be seen roaming the halls looking for some action.

Since the mid-1800's, 3003 M St. has sheltered a variety of occupants and been home to numerous businesses, including a public boarding house, grocery store, Congressional bordello, and French restaurant.

In 1979, a pair of drifters from the coast hopped a freight train to Georgetown, pawned their mother's jewelry and opened Garrett's. For the first few years, business was slow and the pair had to supplement their income by hunting endangered rhinos and selling the horns on the black market. In a fit of drunken nostalgia the two drifters loaded the restaurant with rhino and railroad paraphernalia.

In more recent years Garrett's has played an active role keeping the community well fed and pleasantly saturated with the finest spirits available.

Compiled by the Georgetown Hysterical Society

But Seriously...

Garrett's opened for business on January 27, 1979. The building where we are located at has a long history as one of the oldest structures in Georgetown (even older than Washington, DC itself.) Through the many years, the Thomas Sim Lee House has been both a residence and a business location. Right before Garrett's, the building was home to a French restaurant. Our original owners were big fans of the railroad industry and gave us that theme. Garrett's is named after an investor who helped finance the venture of a great neighborhood restaurant and tavern. This investor also gave us our mascot, the rhinoceros, by loaning a real rhino head that was prominently displayed in our downstairs bar. Today, you are greeted by a fiberglass replica rhino head as soon as your walk in the door. That is why both railroads and rhinos come together at Garrett's and we've had both themes a lot longer than any other establishment in the area.

There is more. Garrett's is in a building that is well over 200 years old and a lot has happened inside our walls. A lot of people are convinced that at least one spirit wanders around inside our building. Come in, find a veteran staffer, and, if they are not too busy, ask them about it.