It’s Closing Time at Arlington’s Rhodeside Grill

After nearly 30 years, the bar and live-music spot will close on February 21. Read More

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Longtime Arlington bar and live-music spot Rhodeside Grill will have its last call on Saturday, February 21.
“With the building set for redevelopment and no long-term lease in place, we’ve had to make the tough decision to move on,” the owners shared in a message on their website and social media.

Wilson and Alice Whitney founded Rhodeside Grill nearly 30 years ago; Wilson died in 2019 at age 60. “What started back in 1996 as Alice and Wilson Whitney’s vision for a cozy neighborhood hangout turned into something so much bigger than we ever imagined,” the restaurant said.

Rhodeside has been a dependable neighborhood fixture for downstairs bands, game nights, and casual dinners. A 2013 renovation polished the space, but its everyone’s-welcome spirit never wavered.

“We are most proud of how much Rhodeside has meant to the community,” says owner Chris Lefbom. “To see married couples coming back to visit RSG 25 years later from when they had their first date here is why you are in the hospitality business. There’s countless stories.”

In their farewell, the owners thanked the generations of regulars who filled the bar with “conversations, laughter and music,” crediting the community for making Rhodeside more than just a restaurant.

“Arlington has always been a gathering spot for anyone and everyone, which is what we have always envisioned Rhodeside to be,” Lefbom says. “Although Arlington has changed over the years, our neighborhood taverns connect with every age group, ethnicity, wealth class and style, regardless of which decade we are in.”

Sister spots Ragtime, William Jeffrey’s Tavern, Dogwood Tavern and Bear Branch Tavern remain open. Lefbom says most current Rhodeside Grill employees will shift to one of the four remaining restaurants.

There’s still time to stop in, grab a drink and share a memory. 1836 Wilson Blvd., Arlington

Feature image courtesy Rhodeside Grill