The iconic club which brought jazz back to U Street is closing down.
Sadly, the coronavirus pandemic continues to have negative repercussions on DC’s restaurant and bar scene. The popular bar, Twins Jazz is the latest to fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic. The U Street landmark had been around for more than three decades and was a total staple of DC’s ‘Black Broadway’ scene.
Club owners Kelly and Maze Tesfaye–twin sisters from whom the jazz club got its name–first opened Twins Jazz Club back in 1986. Featuring nightly live performances, the lounge was the go-to spot for local jazz lovers and music enthusiasts. It quickly became a staple of DC’s jazz scene contributing to U Street NW’s transformation into DC’s ‘Black Broadway.’
On Thursday, August 27, the Tesfaye sisters shared a heartfelt post on their social media announcing the venue’s closure. “It is with profound sadness and sincere regrets for the impacts on all of you that we must announce that, owing to the harsh economic circumstances brought on by the ongoing pandemic, Twins Jazz has been forced to close its physical location at 1344 U Street NW Washington DC,” reads the farewell letter.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Jazz community in Washington, DC for 33 years. We came to this country from Ethiopia with a dream of owning our own business and we have done more than we could have ever imagined,” it continues. “The decision to close was very difficult, however we knew the safety of our patrons, musicians and staff was our top priority and given the uncertainty of when we could safely open our doors, we decided to close our location permanently.”
You can read the whole note on Twins Jazz Facebook page.
Twins Jazz’s legacy won’t stop with its closure, however. On their farewell note, owners Kelly and Maze announced they’re taking this time to reimagine new ways in which to carry on their legacy.
“We are taking this time to reimagine how we can continue to serve the DC jazz community in a new and innovate way that provides musicians with a platform to perform and continues the legacy that Twins Jazz has established in Washington, DC over the past three decades,” they wrote.
While it is sad to see Twins Jazz go, we’re looking forward to what the future brings for the legendary club’s legacy and its community.
See also: DC Landmarks Lit Up In Purple And Gold To Celebrate The 19th Amendment Centennial Last Night
[Featured image: @corcoranholt, Instagram]