In DC in the early 60’s, a new youthful
spirit arriving with the Kennedy administration coincided with the rollback of repressive liquor laws, and what the town appeared to need most was a new American saloon -- a gathering place for good food, good fellowship, and good fun. Harvard grad, World War II pilot, and
international businessman Stuart
Davidson had the savvy and the
experience to get the concept just right, and he opened Clyde’s of Georgetown in 1963. Davidson was joined within six months by John Laytham, a Georgetown University student, and Clyde’s became an
instant institution.
As Clyde’s popularity and the region’s population grew, Davidson & Laytham
resisted the franchise formula of other successful restaurants, choosing
instead to tailor each new saloon to the specific needs and attributes of each new location. Despite the passing
of Stuart Davidson in 2001, the style and spirit of Clyde’s is carried forward by founding partner John Laytham, with the help of his talented &
dedicated teams. Fresh food & fresh ideas have been the basis for the
quality & variety that is Clyde’s
hallmark; and they will continue to inspire fresh possibilities for every new Clyde’s
to come.
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