CER 26-0191

                                                                      ENROLLED ORIGINAL
                               A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
                                             26-191
                   IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
                                          July 14, 2026
To recognize and celebrate Mr. Henry’s, on the occasion of its 60th anniversary, for its
       significance to the Capitol Hill community as a locally owned and operated, legendary
       restaurant and entertainment venue.
       WHEREAS, Mr. Henry’s was founded in 1966 at 6th and Pennsylvania Avenue,
Southeast, by Henry Yaffe, who opened the establishment as a Victorian-style pub;
       WHEREAS, in 1968, Yaffe became interested in hosting musical artists and engaged a
local DC Public Schools teacher, Roberta Flack, to perform;
        WHEREAS, Yaffe subsequently converted the second floor of Mr. Henry’s into a
performance space to accommodate Flack’s increasingly popular performances, and a photo of
Flack taken at Mr. Henry’s was used as the cover of her debut album, First Take;
        WHEREAS, Flack went on to great fame and a Grammy-winning career, which all
started at Mr. Henry’s;
      WHEREAS, in 1971, Larry Quillian took over ownership of Mr. Henry’s, while Yaffe
opened several other Mr. Henry’s locations in the DC area;
       WHEREAS, the owners painstakingly restored Mr. Henry’s in the mid-2010s on the
occasion of the business’s 50th anniversary, including bringing live jazz music back upstairs;
         WHEREAS, Mr. Henry’s is now owned by Larry Quillian’s daughter, Mary Quillian
Helms;
       WHEREAS, Mr. Henry’s has continued to be a favorite establishment of jazz lovers,
hosting multiple performances each week, including the weekly Capitol Hill Jazz Jam;
        WHEREAS, from its inception and through its evolution as both a locals bar and soul and
jazz club, Mr. Henry’s has attracted diverse patrons and employees;
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                                                                      ENROLLED ORIGINAL
        WHEREAS, Mr. Henry’s has long been a gay-friendly venue, providing a safe space for
the District’s LGBTQ+ community;
       WHEREAS, Mr. Henry’s persisted through the COVID-19 pandemic by offering
innovative takeout meals, partnerships with other local businesses, and support from its loyal
patrons; and
       WHEREAS, Mary Quillian Helms and Mr. Henry’s are anchors of, and champions for,
the Capitol Hill small business community, including Eastern Market Main Street.
        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Mr. Henry’s 60th Anniversary Recognition Resolution of 2026”.
        Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and celebrates Mr. Henry’s,
on the occasion of its 60th anniversary, for its significance to the Capitol Hill community as a
locally owned and operated, legendary restaurant and entertainment venue.
       Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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