Diary of a mad bar keep

There’s a blockbuster reality TV show to be produced out of the real life (and perhaps death) of Nathan’s Restaurant in Georgetown. 

Carol Joynt owns the place, no thanks to her late husband, Howard, a rascal who had the bad taste to pass away after tapping the till for his (and hers) plush lifestyle, leaving the business flat busted and in trouble with the IRS.

For several years, Ms. Joynt has been blogging her story (she even wrote a book about it, nearly 10 years ago), at NathansLunch.com.  Often, her items have been about meeting famous people and interviewing them for her Cafe Q&A in the bar, or vacationing in New England, fabulous meals with friends in New York, or the trials of being a single mother. 

But now, it's getting serious.  Business is overtaking life. The lease is expiring.  And, in melodramatic form, the landlord is being unreasonable. It’s coming to The End. 

Nathan’s is an iconic part of Washington at Wisconsin and M Streets.  Ten years ago, Georgetown was more of a neighborhood, albeit tony and exclusive for the residences of government types and would-be power brokers.  But now, the neighborhood has changed, and everything has gone upscale.  A corner saloon, even a classy one like Nathan's, has trouble paying the bills.  There’s no walk-by traffic from office buildings, parking is troublesome, and traffic’s a mess.

Nathan’s probably won't be there in a year.  In her place, maybe an Apple Computer Store or a Gap, unless an angel investor appears to buy the building and gives Joynt a deal she can live with.  Her current lease is awful - high rent, she's responsible for all maintenance, and also liable for something like $10K/month in property taxes.

She’s kept the place afloat by working very very hard, helped by her General Manager and other staffers who must see in her the same focus, determination and ‘never give up’ spirit that I do.  However, the air seems to be coming out of the balloon. In today’s blog post, Ms. Joynt seems to be at a low point, frozen by resignation to what will be.

I think her story would make great TV.  The “Perils of Carol” line, with its story of a spouse whose great love for life doomed her to a decade-long struggle.

Will Nathans live or die?  Will Carol declare bankruptcy?  Will her son finish school?  What happens to the restaurant staff (imagine, loyalty in the bar!)?  Someone ... make this TV show ... and pay Joynt a big rights fee so she can get out of hock.