WaPo: "The Royal, a Colombian cafe & bar opening in LeDroit Park"

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Going Out Guide

The Royal, a Colombian cafe and bar opening in LeDroit Park

By Maura Judkis April 20 at 4:05 PM

When they hear about his plans to open the Royal at 501 Florida Ave. NW, the first thing people ask restaurateur Paul Carlson is not about the food, or the cocktails, or the coffee he plans to serve all day. It's about the building. Specifically, its Grimace-purple brick exterior.

"Will you please paint over that?" said Carlson, in the voice of his well-meaning friends.

He's planning to -- but he doesn't know what color it will be yet. "I'm leaving that up to my mother. She's got great taste," he said.

That's because the Royal, which takes its name from the former Royal Liquor Store previously at that location, will be a family affair. Carlson is opening it in LeDroit Park, blocks from where his parents and sister live, and close to his other venture, Vinoteca.
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The Royal, which will seat 50 people, will open mid-May.

The Royal, 501 Florida Ave. NW. Metro: Shaw/Howard University.