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Comet Ping Pong

Coordinates:38°57′21″N77°04′11″W/ 38.955833°N 77.069722°W/38.955833; -77.069722
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Comet Ping Pong
A green storefront with a large orange and yellow logo that reads "Comet" in all capital letters.
Comet Ping Pong in 2016
Map
Restaurantinformation
EstablishedOctober 2006
Owner(s)James Alefantis
Food typePizza
Dress codeCasual
Street address5037Connecticut AvenueNW
CityWashington, D.C.
Postal/ZIP Code20008
CountryUnited States
Coordinates38°57′21″N77°04′11″W/ 38.955833°N 77.069722°W/38.955833; -77.069722
Websitewww.cometpingpong.com

Comet Ping Pong(often abbreviated asComet) is apizzeria,restaurant,andconcert venuelocated onConnecticut AvenueinWashington, D.C.'sChevy Chase neighborhood.Owned byJames Alefantis,Comet has received critical acclaim fromThe Washington Post,The Washingtonian,New Yorkmagazine, theDCist,andGuy FieriofFood Network'sDiners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Comet was founded in 2006 by Alefantis and Carole Greenwood, both of whom also co-owned another restaurant on the same block. The restaurant was involved in a disagreement with the area'sAdvisory Neighborhood Commissionover concerts inside the restaurant in 2008. Alefantis became the sole owner of Comet Ping Pong in 2009 after Greenwood, a chef at both restaurants, left her position as co-owner and executive chef of Comet.

The restaurant is the focus of thePizzagate conspiracy theory,which has been discredited by a wide variety of organizations, including theMetropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia.One Pizzagate activist fired a gun in the restaurant in 2016, and another started a fire in it in 2019. In 2020, the restaurant temporarily closed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

History

Founding

Comet Ping Pong was founded by James Alefantis and Carole Greenwood in 2006. Prior to opening Comet Ping Pong, Alefantis and Greenwood co-owned Buck's Fishing and Camping, another restaurant next door to Comet's current location.[1]The location of Comet was previously occupied by another restaurant, Thai Room.[1]When it was announced that it was closing, Alefantis decided that he would rather be competing against himself than another restaurateur.[1]The original idea for the space was to make a restaurant devoted to roast chicken called "The Hen House", but Alefantis and Greenwood decided against it and made the location a pizzeria instead.[1]The name came from a neon "Comet" sign that Alefantis found at Comet Liquor in the city'sAdams Morganneighborhood.[1]

After Alefantis purchased the location, the DC architecture firmCOREredesigned the space by removing most of the features from the building and making it more "raw".[2]Because the location was next door to their other restaurant, Alefantis and Greenwood merged both restaurants' kitchens so they could easily move back and forth between the locations.[3]Alefantis and Greenwood were inspired byNew Haven-style pizzain the menu's creation.[4]Initially, Comet Ping Pong faced challenges: patrons complained that the pizzas were too expensive and that its salad selection was too small.[1]The restaurant changed its menu and was able to find a niche in the gourmet pizza market in the D.C. area.[3]Greenwood served as the chef of both restaurants;[5]she left her position as executive chef and co-owner in 2009 citing urgent family matters and other personal interests.[6][7]TheWashington City Paper's Tim Carman in 2009 felt that both Comet and Buck's Fishing & Camping had managed to succeed without Greenwood.[8]

Conflict with the ANC

A ping pong table inside of the restaurant
Ping ponggames are played inside the restaurant.

When Comet Ping Pong opened in October 2006,[9]Alefantis made a voluntary agreement with the localAdvisory Neighborhood Commission(ANC) and theAlcoholic Beverage Control Boardthat the restaurant "would not stay open past midnight or have live entertainment."[10]By 2008, however, the restaurant was hosting live music events and some neighborhood residents complained that the business was open after midnight.[10]Additionally, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Frank Winstead criticized Alefantis for having placed a ping pong table on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant to attract and entertain customers.[11]Winstead published a video onYouTube,"Ping Pong in Public Space", which showed people playing ping pong outside the restaurant and implied that the situation was a traffic hazard.[11]Anticipating that he was going to request outside seating, Alefantis brought the table indoors.[11]Alefantis held a meeting with the local ANC board to formally request that it allow Comet to place outside seating, have live entertainment in the restaurant, and remain open after midnight.[10]The meeting was acrimonious, with some ANC members accusing Alefantis of violating the agreement and holding live entertainment in the venue. Winstead stated that Alefantis was "trying to turn this area intoAdams Morganwith the murders and rapes. "[10]The ANC decided in Comet's favor by a 4–3 vote and the audio recording of the meeting went public.[12]Live music resumed on August 8, 2008, after the decision, and Winstead was defeated by a wide margin in the next election.[13][14]

Pizzagate conspiracy theory, 2016 shooting, and the COVID-19 pandemic

Main article:Pizzagate conspiracy theory
Community messages in front of Comet Ping Pong following the shooting

In early November 2016, several websites and online forums falsely implicated Comet Ping Pong and variousDemocratic Partyfigures as part of a supposedchild traffickingring, which was dubbed "Pizzagate" onInternet forums.[15]The rumor was debunked by theMetropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbiaand sources such asSnopes.comandThe New York Times,among others.[16][17][18][19]However, the restaurant's owners and staff were harassed, threatened onsocial mediawebsites, and given negativeYelpreviews.[20][21]After continued threats, Comet Ping Pong increased the security for concerts held inside its premises.[22]

On December 4, 2016, Edgar Maddison Welch ofSalisbury, North Carolina,walked into the restaurant with asemi-automatic rifleand fired three rounds inside the building before being arrested; no one was injured.[19][23]In addition to theAR-15-style rifle,police seized aColt.38 caliber handgun, a shotgun, and afolding knifefrom Welch's car and person.[19]Welch told police that he planned to "self-investigate" the conspiracy theory,[19]and was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying apistolwithout a license, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and carrying a rifle or shotgun outside the home or business.[24]On June 22, 2017, he was sentenced to four years in prison.[25]On March 3, 2020, Welch was transferred to aCommunity Corrections Center(CCC) and was released on May 28.[26]

In response to the shooting, the restaurant set up aGoFundMecampaign to compensate for additional security, lost wages, and property damage.[27]OnFacebook,a local PR consultant set up an event to support the restaurant and nearby businesses affected by the harassment campaign, which thousands of people expressed interest in attending.[28][29]During the sentencing hearing for the gunman, then-U.S. District JudgeKetanji Brown Jacksonstressed that Welch's actions "literally left psychological wreckage." An arsonist set a fire in the restaurant in January 2019. The fire was quickly put out by restaurant employees and caused no injuries.[30]A man suspected to be the arsonist was later arrested[31]and pleaded guilty at court in December 2019.[32]

Starting on March 15, 2020, the restaurant was forced to temporarily shut down due to the implementation ofCOVID-19 restrictions in Washington, D.C.,relying on takeout and delivery for income.[9]As of May 2020, Comet Ping Pong continued to be targeted by believers of Pizzagate, with one person jamming the restaurant's phone line for one day.[9]

Services and reputation

A band dressed in black shirts playing music surrounded by people
A band performs in Comet Ping Pong's back room.

Comet Ping Pong is both a pizzeria and a live concert venue.The Washington Post's food critic, Tom Sietsema, gave Comet two and a half stars out of four, noting that its pizzas "are as good for their thin and yeasty crusts as for their toppings."[33]The Washingtonianplaced the restaurant in the "top tier" of Washington pizzerias.[34]New Yorkmagazine featured Comet in its "Where to Eat" section of a "Navigating the Potomac" feature, describing the restaurant as a "hipster-heavy pizza parlor".[35]TheDCistfeatured Comet Ping Pong's 'Time-Out' pizza as one of the ten best in the area.[36]The restaurant also appeared on an episode ofFood Network'sDiners, Drive-Ins and DiveswithGuy Fieriin 2010 in which he called the Yalie clam and the Phillycalzonepizzas some of the "best he's ever had".[37][38]

GQranked James Alefantis as the 49th most powerful person in Washington, partly on the basis of owning Comet Ping Pong and its cultural cachet.[39]Ping pong tables populate the back room, which serves as Comet's concert venue and features a stage at nearly ground level.[13][40]A number of artists and bands have performed at the restaurant, includingThe Apes,Speedy Ortiz,andTussle.[13][41][42]DCist's Mehan Jayasuriya noted of the venue, "It's not often that, on your way into a punk rock show, you have to carefully skirt around the band members, for fear of interrupting their ping-pong match."[40]

References

  1. ^abcdefSietsema, Tom (July 8, 2007)."Game for Pizza: Comet Ping Pong delivers the goods".Washington Post Magazine.p. 25.Archivedfrom the original on July 19, 2017.RetrievedAugust 29,2017.
  2. ^"Your Serve: Comet Ping Pong".Wallpaper.September 2007.
  3. ^abKliman, Todd (October 1, 2007)."Pizza Wars".The Washingtonian.RetrievedSeptember 28,2013.
  4. ^Carman, Tim (July 2, 2010)."Ignore the Pizza Police".The Washington City Paper.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2017.RetrievedDecember 18,2017.
  5. ^Sietsema, Tom (June 1, 2009)."Seismic Changes at Buck's and Comet Ping Pong".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on July 28, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 28,2013.
  6. ^Moyer, Justin (June 1, 2009)."Adios, Carole Greenwood".Washington City Paper.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 28,2013.
  7. ^Liu, Jaime R. (June 1, 2009)."Carole Greenwood out at Buck's and Comet".DCist.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2015.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  8. ^Carman, Tim (October 16, 2009)."Carole Greenwood's Empire, Minus Carole Greenwood".Washington City Paper.Archivedfrom the original on December 10, 2013.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  9. ^abcDavies, Emily (May 1, 2020)."Comet Ping Pong survived Pizzagate. Can it survive the coronavirus?".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
  10. ^abcdKim, Eddie (June 18, 2008)."Small Victory for Comet Ping Pong at ANC Meeting".DCist.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 28,2013.
  11. ^abcFisher, Marc (September 28, 2013)."Saving Sidewalks From the Evils of Ping-Pong".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on January 23, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 28,2013.
  12. ^Hess, Amanda (June 19, 2008)."Frank Winstead Gone Wild: The Recordings".Washington City Paper.Archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2013.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  13. ^abcHahn, Fritz (August 22, 2008)."Comet Amps It Up Again".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on January 23, 2014.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  14. ^Austermuhle, Martin (November 5, 2008)."The Local Races: Change Also Came to D.C."DCist.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2015.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  15. ^Silverman, Craig (November 4, 2016)."How A Completely False Claim About Hillary Clinton Went From A Conspiracy Message Board To Big Right Wing Blogs".BuzzFeed News.Archivedfrom the original on December 5, 2016.RetrievedNovember 29,2016.
  16. ^Arrest Made in an Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun): 5000 Block of Connecticut Avenue, Northwest,Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia(December 5, 2016):
  17. ^LaCapria, Kim (November 21, 2016)."FALSE: Comet Ping Pong Pizzeria Home to Child Abuse Ring Led by Hillary Clinton".Snopes.com.RetrievedDecember 2,2016.
  18. ^Carlson, Margaret (November 23, 2016)."A Fake Conspiracy for Our Fevered Age".Bloomberg View.Archivedfrom the original on November 29, 2016.RetrievedNovember 29,2016.
  19. ^abcdSvrluga, Susan; Siddiqui, Faiz (December 4, 2016)."N.C. man told police he went to D.C. pizzeria with assault rifle to 'self-investigate' election-related conspiracy theory".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2016.
  20. ^Wendling, Mike (December 2, 2016)."The saga of 'Pizzagate': The fake story that shows how conspiracy theories spread".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on December 2, 2016.RetrievedDecember 2,2016.
  21. ^Kang, Cecilia (November 21, 2016)."This Pizzeria Is Not a Child-Trafficking Site".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2016.
  22. ^Kurzius, Rachel (December 2, 2016)."Comet Ping Pong Increases Concert Security In Response To Pizzagate".DCist.Archivedfrom the original on December 4, 2016.RetrievedDecember 3,2016.
  23. ^Ingram, Hunter (December 5, 2016)."D.C. pizza place shooter a former CFCC student, local actor".Wilmington Star News.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2016.RetrievedDecember 6,2016.
  24. ^"Charges filed against suspected 'Pizzagate' gunman".CBS News.Associated Press.December 5, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on February 1, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 31,2018.
  25. ^Hsu, Sepncer S. (June 22, 2017)."'Pizzagate' gunman sentenced to four years in prison, as prosecutors urged judge to deter vigilante justice ".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2017.RetrievedJune 22,2017.
  26. ^E. Miller, Michael (February 16, 2021)."The Pizzagate gunman is out of prison. Conspiracy theories are out of control".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on February 17, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 20,2021.
  27. ^Worl, Justin (December 8, 2016)."Comet Ping Pong Starts GoFundMe to Pay Expenses After Pizzagate Shooting".Time.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2016.RetrievedDecember 9,2016.
  28. ^Alfarone, Debra (December 9, 2016)."Comet Ping Pong gets 3-4x the business during #StandWithComet".WUSA.Archivedfrom the original on December 10, 2016.RetrievedDecember 9,2016.
  29. ^Knapp, Jackson (December 8, 2016)."One-Day Event Supporting Comet Ping Pong Has to Be Extended for a Whole Weekend".Washingtonian.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2016.RetrievedDecember 9,2016.
  30. ^Hermann, Peter (January 25, 2019)."Fire at Comet Ping Pong was intentionally set, fire and police officials say".Washington Post.
  31. ^"Man arrested in arson at Comet Ping Pong, D.C. restaurant associated with 'Pizzagate'".ABC7 WJLA. February 14, 2019.
  32. ^"Public Safety: Man pleads guilty to setting fire at Comet Ping Pong pizza restaurant in D.C."The Washington Post.December 17, 2019.RetrievedMay 20,2021.
  33. ^Sietsema, Tom (September 18, 2009)."Comet Ping Pong Review".The Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon July 5, 2013.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  34. ^Kliman, Todd; Limpert, Ann; Nerenberg, Kate; Rapuano, Rina (August 16, 2011)."Cheap Eats 2011: Comet Ping Pong".Washingtonian.Archivedfrom the original on January 9, 2013.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  35. ^Sax, David (August 6, 2009)."Navigate the Potomac River".New York.Archivedfrom the original on May 21, 2015.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  36. ^Hughes, Sarah Anne (September 18, 2013)."The Ten Best Pizzas in D.C."DCist.Archivedfrom the original on September 21, 2013.RetrievedOctober 8,2013.
  37. ^"Food Network On The Road/Comet Ping Pong: Washington DC".Food Network.Archivedfrom the original on January 11, 2014.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  38. ^"Farm to Table".Food Network.Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2013.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  39. ^Cherlin, Reid; Fischer, Rob; Horowitz, Jason; Zengerle, Jason (February 2012)."The 50 Most Powerful People in Washington".GQ.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2013.RetrievedOctober 7,2013.
  40. ^abJayasuriya, Mehan (June 15, 2009)."Click Click: Mika Miko @ Comet Ping Pong".DCist.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2017.RetrievedOctober 8,2013.
  41. ^Paschall, Valerie (August 13, 2013)."Speedy Ortiz @ Comet Ping Pong".DCist.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2017.RetrievedOctober 8,2013.
  42. ^Tempey, Nathan (December 5, 2016)."What On Earth Is Pizzagate And How Did It Result In Gunfire At Comet Ping Pong?".DCist.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2016.RetrievedDecember 10,2016.
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