The Occidental

Description

The Occidental is built by Henry Willard (of Willard Hotel fame) in 1906. In the beginning, it’s operated by Mr. Gustav Buchholz, a German immigrant who had previously worked as a head waiter at The Willard. Before his death in 1925, Gus’s charm, food knowledge and attention to detail built a large and loyal following. Gus began displaying autographed photographs of his customers with the assistance of Sam J. Venable, a photographer whose studio was located nearby at 1225 G Street. The Occidental now boasts a collection of over 1,500 photos of well-known guests who’ve dined at the restaurant from 1906 to today. The Occidental hosts the Washington Senator's 1924 World Series Victory Celebration. In 1962, John Scali meets with Alexander Fomin at The Occidental bringing closure to the Cuban missle crisis. In 1963, while staying at the Willard Hotel, Martin Luther King, Jr. dines at The Occidental. The Occidental celebrates 100th Anniversary in 2006. The restaurant remains a popular landmark and filming location and has been featured in the movie Captain America and on shows such as Veep, Homeland, House of Cards, Boardwalk Empire and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.