Annie’s celebrates 75th anniversary
George Katinas, a child of immigrants, opened Paramount Steakhouse in 1948 on the corner of 17th and Church streets, N.W. (where JR.’s is currently located).
Three-quarters of a century later, the restaurant has changed its name and location, received accolades from the city and James Beard, and was deservedly feted last weekend.
His son Paul now owns the restaurant, and runs Annie’s today with his daughter Georgia Katinas. George ran the restaurant with his sisters, but it was a singular sister Annie who coaxed the restaurant into its status as a place of community and acceptance for the growing LGBTQ population in Dupont Circle.
Katinas renamed the restaurant for her. When there were desperately few areas of safety, Annie’s stood out, and does still today.
