The Dean & DeLuca Georgetown DC Mystery: What Really Happened To The Iconic Gourmet Market And What’s There Now
The iconic white awning and minimalist marble counters of Dean & DeLuca in Georgetown are a ghost of Washington D.C.'s recent past, yet the story of its demise and the explosive new business that has taken its place is more relevant than ever. As of December 24, 2025, the historic space at 3276 M Street NW, once a temple for gourmet food lovers, has been completely transformed, marking the end of an era for the upscale grocery chain and the beginning of a star-studded culinary chapter.
The closure of the Dean & DeLuca Georgetown location in 2019 was not just a local event; it was a high-profile casualty in the larger collapse of a global brand, forcing local residents and D.C. visitors to ask: what exactly happened to the gourmet institution that defined luxury shopping in the nation’s capital for over two decades? The current occupant is a collaboration between two culinary titans, bringing a Michelin-star pedigree to the very spot where D&D’s legacy crumbled.
The Dean & DeLuca Georgetown DC: A Brief History and Sudden Demise
The Georgetown branch of Dean & DeLuca was more than just a store; it was a cultural landmark. It represented the height of gourmet sophistication, a place where D.C.’s elite and international visitors could find exotic spices, artisanal cheeses, and high-end prepared foods. Its history is deeply intertwined with the brand’s global expansion and eventual decline.
- Founding & Origin: Dean & DeLuca was founded in 1977 in the SoHo district of New York City by three partners: Joel Dean, Giorgio DeLuca, and Jack Ceglic. The initial concept was revolutionary: a high-end cheese store that quickly expanded into a full-service gourmet market.
- Georgetown Opening: The Georgetown DC location at 3276 M St. NW opened its doors in 1993. This location was significant as it was the third Dean & DeLuca store overall and the very first one outside of New York City, cementing its status as a major step in the brand's national strategy.
- Years of Operation: The store served the Washington D.C. area for 26 years, becoming a fixture in the upscale Georgetown retail landscape.
- The Closure Date: The official closure date for the Georgetown market was August 1, 2019.
The Shocking Reasons Behind the Closure of a Gourmet Empire
The closure of the Georgetown DC location was not an isolated incident but a symptom of deep-rooted financial and operational problems plaguing the entire international Dean & DeLuca brand. The news sent shockwaves through the local community, but for those following the company’s troubles, the writing was on the wall.
The primary factor was the chain's severe financial distress. After decades of expansion, including international franchises and a move into the high-stakes world of fine dining, the company's debt became unmanageable. The once-pioneering upscale grocery chain struggled to adapt to new competition from both local artisanal markets and major high-end retailers like Whole Foods Market.
Locally, the 3276 M St. NW location faced its own unique operational hurdles. Reports surfaced of multiple issues, including significant food safety issues and repeated closures ordered by the DC Health Department in the years leading up to the final shuttering. These incidents severely damaged the store's reputation, which was built entirely on a promise of pristine quality and European-level gourmet standards. The combination of corporate financial insolvency and localized operational failures made the Georgetown store an inevitable casualty.
From Gourmet Market to Michelin-Caliber Italian Masterpiece
For several years after the Dean & DeLuca closure, the massive Georgetown Market building remained vacant, a stark, white reminder of the brand's failure. However, the prime location on M Street in one of D.C.'s most affluent neighborhoods was too valuable to sit empty for long. In a massive revitalization effort, the space was taken over by a collaboration between two of the culinary world's most respected names, marking one of the most exciting restaurant openings in D.C. in recent memory.
The new occupant is Osteria Mozza, the first East Coast outpost of the critically acclaimed, Michelin-starred Los Angeles restaurant. The venture is a partnership between Philadelphia-based restaurateur Stephen Starr—known for D.C. hits like Le Diplomate—and legendary California chef Nancy Silverton.
The opening of Osteria Mozza DC in November 2024 has completely redefined the space, shifting its identity from an upscale market to a destination Italian restaurant. The new concept honors the building's history as a place for fine food, but with a renewed focus on a high-end dining experience.
The New Era: Osteria Mozza’s Culinary Vision
Nancy Silverton, a James Beard Award-winning chef and co-founder of the Mozza Restaurant Group, has brought her signature style of Italian cooking to the capital. The Osteria Mozza concept is built around a celebration of traditional Italian cuisine, seasonality, and culture, a stark contrast to the grab-and-go model of its predecessor.
The restaurant has quickly become a sensation, drawing in food critics and diners with its focus on fresh, handmade ingredients. Key menu highlights and entities that define the new space include:
- The Mozzarella Bar: A signature feature offering various imported and house-made fresh mozzarella preparations, a nod to Silverton’s expertise.
- Handmade Pasta: The menu heavily features signature pasta dishes, a staple of authentic Italian osteria dining.
- Wood-Fired Fare: Drawing inspiration from Silverton’s other successful concepts, such as Chi Spacca and Pizzeria Mozza, the menu includes fire-grilled meats and other rustic preparations, including the popular Chicken alla Diavola.
- Butterscotch Budino: A highly-praised dessert that has followed the restaurant from its Los Angeles roots to the Georgetown DC location.
The transformation from Dean & DeLuca to Osteria Mozza is a powerful metaphor for the evolution of the D.C. dining scene. Where the old market represented a global, somewhat impersonal luxury brand, the new restaurant embodies a more intimate, chef-driven, and experience-focused form of luxury. This change has been hailed as a triumph for the Georgetown retail and culinary landscape, bringing new energy and a definitive culinary destination to the historic M Street corridor.
The Enduring Legacy of the Historic Georgetown Market Building
The building at 3276 M St. NW has a rich history that predates both Dean & DeLuca and Osteria Mozza. It is known locally as the Georgetown Market building, and its architectural significance has been recognized by the DC Preservation community.
Built in 1865, the structure has historically served as a central market for the Georgetown community, making its use as a gourmet food retailer by Dean & DeLuca a continuation of its original purpose. The architecture, with its high ceilings and open floor plan, lent itself perfectly to the dramatic, industrial-chic aesthetic that was a hallmark of the original Dean & DeLuca design by Jack Ceglic. The building itself is an entity that connects the past of the upscale grocery chain with the present-day fine dining experience of Osteria Mozza.
The space's longevity and adaptability highlight the enduring commercial importance of the Georgetown neighborhood. While the memory of the white-and-black signage of Dean & DeLuca remains a nostalgic point for many long-time residents, the arrival of a world-class restaurant helmed by Nancy Silverton and Stephen Starr ensures that the historic market continues its legacy as a premier destination for food and culture in Washington D.C.
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