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Kramerbooks & Afterwords facts for kids
Front entrance to Kramerbooks
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| Private | |
| Industry | Bookstore, Restaurant |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founders | Bill Kramer, Henry Posner, David Tenney |
| Headquarters | |
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Key people
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Steve Salis, David Tenney (owners) |
Kramerbooks & Afterwords, often called Kramer's, is a special bookstore and cafe in Washington, D.C.. It's located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Since it opened in 1976, Kramer's has become a popular spot. People from the neighborhood, authors, and even politicians meet there. It was one of the first bookstores to have a cafe. This idea became very popular across the country. Famous people like Barack Obama, Andy Warhol, and Maya Angelou have visited. Monica Lewinsky also visited, and her purchases gained a lot of attention.
Contents
Discovering Kramerbooks: A Unique Bookstore
How Kramer's Began
Kramerbooks opened its doors in August 1976. It was started by Bill Kramer, David Tenney, and Henry Posner. The store is located at 1517 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. Just two months later, they opened Afterwords Cafe. The cafe had its own entrance on 19th Street. The building itself was built in 1920. It used to be a place where cars were shown.
Bill Kramer wanted to create a place where people could eat and read. He thought these were "two of the three most enjoyable human activities." At that time, not many places offered both. This new idea quickly became a hit. Other bookstores, like Harvard Book Store, started adding cafes too.
A Popular Meeting Spot
In its early days, Kramer's was open 24 hours a day. It quickly became a favorite place for many people. Neighbors, writers, and politicians all loved to visit. It also became known as a fun place to meet new friends. The New York Times newspaper once called Kramer's "one part bookstore, one part restaurant and perhaps one part singles bar."
One of the founders, Henry Posner, said Kramer's helped bring life to Dupont Circle. Many customers had their first real espresso or cappuccino there. They also tried their first craft beers and Häagen-Dazs ice cream. The owners even had fresh bagels brought in from New York City. They couldn't find good ones locally!
Growing Bigger
In 1984, Afterwords Cafe added outdoor seating. This allowed people to enjoy their food and drinks outside. The business grew even more in 1991. They bought the building next door, which used to be Cafe Splendide. This expansion made the bar area much larger.
Kramer's also tried opening two other locations. These were in Arlington, Virginia, starting in 1993. One of these stores was very big, about three times the size of the D.C. location. It also had a restaurant. However, both Arlington branches did not do well and closed down.
Kramer's Today: An Iconic Place
Even though many independent bookstores have faced challenges, Kramer's remains popular. People still come for its cozy atmosphere and live music. They also enjoy author events and the full bar. Kramer's is often called a "Washington, D.C. institution." It's seen as an important part of the city's culture.
Many famous people have visited Kramer's. President Barack Obama and his daughters shopped there in 2011. This was part of an event called Small Business Saturday. Actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus and John Slattery filmed a scene for the TV show Veep inside Kramer's. Other celebrities like Maya Angelou, Andy Warhol, Toni Morrison, and Margaret Cho have also stopped by.
Changes and New Ownership
When large chain bookstores closed nearby, it helped Kramer's. However, more trendy restaurants in the city affected the cafe's business. The cafe and bookstore now bring in about the same amount of money. In 2015, the owners, Bill Kramer and David Tenney, decided to sell the business.
They met Steve Salis, who co-founded the restaurant chain &pizza. In 2016, Salis bought Kramer's. David Tenney stayed on as a part-owner for a while. By 2017, Steve Salis became the sole owner.
Salis made some changes and expanded the business. He bought the building next door, adding more space. This made the bookstore and cafe much larger. In August 2020, Salis changed the name of Afterwords Cafe. It is now called All Day by Kramers. A new chef, Vincent Griffith, designed the menu.