News

Washingtonian Profiles Proper Bar Owners in New Feature!

Friday October 31, 2025

Earlier this week, Washingtonian sat down with Proper Bar Owners Rob Zahn and Will Strozier to learn more about Mount Vernon Triangle’s newest bar that opened mid-October, and to explore the journey of building a “Proper” empire that has culminated at their 300 K Street NW location. The duo launched their first restaurant, Manhattan Proper, together in 2012 where they were quickly met with adversity as Hurricane Sandy barreled through lower Manhattan leaving Subways flooded and their Tribeca bar without power. They took this early challenge in stride and credits this “baptism by fire” for providing them with the experience needed to handle “what the worst-case scenario could be.”

Reflecting on additional challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic that ultimately caused Zahn and Strozier to shutter their two New York restaurants and refocus their efforts in DC, Washingtonian writes: “Zahn and Strozier describe the new venture as ‘elevated’ American bistro fare. They say the project represents a reset. ‘Proper Bar is almost like our rebrand,’ Zahn says. ‘We had to reinvent ourselves and get the company strong again—and that’s what we did.'”

Read the full article at washingtonian.com and make a reservation to check out Proper Bar at properbar.com!