Hard Times Cafe (chain restaurant)

Last updated
Hard Times Cafe
Restaurant information
Established1980
Owner(s)Jim and Fred Parker
Location1404 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314, United States
Other locations 5 total locations
Website www.hardtimes.com

Hard Times Cafe (sometimes Hard Times Cafe & Cue) is a restaurant chain serving chili and other foods, primarily in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. area. Hard Times has been recognized in several publications, including USA Today, [1] AOL's City's Best, [2] Zagat's "Top 20 Area Restaurants" from 2003 to 2008, [3] and several others. [4]

Contents

History

The first Hard Times Cafe was opened in Old Town Alexandria in 1980 by Jim and Fred Parker. [5]

On September 21, 2011, Hard Times Cafe opened at Washington DC's Verizon Center sports (now Capital One) arena, home of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, Mystics, Georgetown Hoyas, concerts and events. Hard Times Cafe operated two locations on the Verizon Center's lower level concourse—a permanent stand at section 112 and a portable stand at section 119—offering fans a chance to enjoy chili macs, nachos, veggie nachos, chili tots, wings, and chili dogs. Until closing after the 2015 season, Hard Times also had a location at Nationals Park.

Hard Times serves appetizers, burgers, and salads, but they are generally known for their chili. There are four types of chili available: [6]

Locations

The original location is still in business today, in Alexandria, Virginia. There are a total of 5 locations: [7]

CityStateType
Alexandria Virginia Hard Times Cafe
Fredericksburg (314 Jefferson Davis Highway) Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue
Fredericksburg (5099 Jefferson Davis Highway) Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue
Rockville Maryland Hard Times Cafe
Springfield Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue

Additionally, Hard Times has had former locations that have subsequently been closed at the following sites:

CityStateTypeYear closed
Clarendon Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue2016
College Park Maryland Hard Times Cafe2022
Fairfax Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue2019
Frederick Maryland Hard Times Cafe & Cue2017
Germantown Maryland Hard Times Cafe & Cue2014
Hagerstown Maryland Hard Times Cafe & Cue2017
Herndon Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue2010
Manassas Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue2017
Nationals Park Washington, D.C. Left Field Concourse2015
Capital One Arena Washington, D.C. Lower Level ConcourseUnknown
Waldorf Maryland Hard Times Cafe & Cue2018 or 2019
Woodbridge Virginia Hard Times Cafe & Cue2016
Bethesda Maryland Hard Times Cafe2016-ish
Bel Air Maryland Hard Times Cafe1993 (fire) [8]

References

  1. ↑ "USA Today, October 2005, 10 great places for chili". USA Today . Archived from the original on 2009-05-07. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
  2. ↑ "AOL City's Best". Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  3. ↑ YellowBook: Hard Times Cafe, Top 20
  4. ↑ "Reviews from their website". Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  5. ↑ "Hard Times history". Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  6. ↑ "Hard Times menu - Chili". Archived from the original on 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  7. ↑ "Hard Times locations". Archived from the original on 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  8. ↑ "The 1990's".
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