Left: New owners have added umbrella tables to create a sidewalk café ambiance; below: Ice cream is sold at a front window in the warm months.
The 21st Century Comus Inn Fine Dining in the Country
Many Comus Inn regulars remember the purchase of The Comus Inn around 2001 by Chris“ Doc” Goodwin and a group of local investors. Goodwin spent three years updating, expanding, and redecorating the restaurant, hiring staff, and developing a high-end menu. He applied for and received recognition for the Inn on the National Register of Historic Places, a move that many appreciated for its protection of this quintessential rural asset. In homage to the building’ s roots, small private dining rooms were named after Robert Johnson and Joel Wolfe. The grand opening in early 2005 was much anticipated, and the restaurant operated for more than a decade. During this time it became a popular wedding venue, with a large tent to shelter a crowd on the lawn, and a view of
Sugarloaf Mountain as a dramatic backdrop. Goodwin closed the restaurant when he shifted his focus to other business interests.
The Beer Garden Makeover
After sitting idle for several years, the Inn was purchased in 2019 by Doug Yurechko, a Bethesda real estate developer who reimagined The Comus Inn as a brew pub and beer garden. Opening in late 2020, he installed rough-hewn wood floors and long wooden farm tables, with iron fixtures creating an urban warehouse vibe, and decorated with images of roosters and tractors as a nod to the agricultural environs. Making full use of the five-acre parcel, he built a small stage for live music, a wood lattice pavilion on the lawn, a large circular stone patio and fire pit, and furnished the outdoor spaces with picnic tables to attract casual
crowds. In this era The Comus Inn became a popular evening destination for young people from downcounty and even Washington DC.
The Comus Inn Today
The most recent iteration of The Comus Inn continues its classic strengths— the spectacular views, historic charm, and country ambiance. The new owners, brothers Eric and Ian Hilton with Steve Ryan, head H-2 Collective, a restaurant group with properties in Washington DC, Arlington, Falls Church and Leesburg. They bought The Inn in 2023 because they loved the rustic setting in the rolling hills and wanted a new challenge. Steve Ryan, originally from Ireland, says,“ The countryside around the Inn really reminded me of home.” The Hilton brothers grew up in Montgomery County, and had great memories of visiting the area and
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