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Maxwell Park to Open Second Location in Navy Yard | March 2nd, 2020

February 26, 2020

Wine Bar Brings Together Big Names and Distinctive Features in Navy Yard

WASHINGTON, DC (February 26, 2020)  Maxwell Park, a 46-seat wine bar, to open March 2nd, 2020. Located on 4th St. SE between Tingey and Water Streets SE in Navy Yard, Maxwell Park is the brainchild of award-winning sommelier Brent Kroll. The first location in Shaw was named “Wine Bar of the Year” by the Washington Post Express, Washington City Paper, and Washingtonian. In 2019 Esquire named Maxwell park one of the top bars in the country. Maxwell Park won the 2019 “Wine Program of the Year” award from Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).

This award winning wine bar is the second location from the team behind the Shaw location. This location is being designed by GROUPO7, the architect/designer behind Masseria and its sister restaurant Officina. It has distinct design features, including a framed rock collection collected from wine regions Kroll has visited.

Named after a Detroit-area park that Kroll frequented as a child, Maxwell Park is a concept he has honed over the course of his decade-long career building some of DC’s most dynamic and award-winning wine programs.

The menu will feature around 50 wines by the glass with as frequent as daily changes to best highlight both rare wines available in small quantities and familiar favorites. The cover page will feature small seasonal themes to the wines. Guests will be able to enjoy wines at their optimal temperatures using a carefully controlled, sophisticated refrigeration system with five different temperature zones. Three house-made cocktails ranging from classic to savory will also be available, alongside a handful of craft beers, including sour and funky ales that share similar characteristics with wine.

“I’ve always seen a wine bar as a non-buttoned up place where the dialogue between staff and guests feels like concierge service,” Kroll says. “Most importantly it has to be fun for the guest, which is why I named this after the best park I’ve ever known and home to some of my best childhood memories.”

Led by Kroll, Maxwell Park brings together an all-star team of industry leaders, including Sommelier/Partners Daniel Runnerstrom and Niki Lang as well as Chef Michael Rafidi.

Maxwell
Daniel Runnerstrom, Niki Lang, and Brent Kroll
Photo c/o: MAXWELL PARK

Runnerstrom and Kroll previously collaborated at Iron Gate, where the wine program under their direction made Wine Enthusiast’s 2016 “Best in the Country” list and won the 2015 “Wine Program of the Year” award from Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW). Lang, formerly of Fiola Mare and Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, rounds out the team who will oversee the day-to-day operations at both Maxwell Park locations.

Rafidi will be consulting on the opening menu consisting of small plates and shareable dishes. Guests can expect to see Rafidi’s take on refreshing wine bar fare that focuses on dishes that are creative and wine friendly.

Lexi Parsigian, formerly of Rooster and Owl and Annika Collins, formerly of Northside Social round out the team of Sommelier’s.

The design focal point of the space will be a slate bar that guests and staff will be encouraged to write on and show off their artistic abilities. Aside from its aesthetic appeal, the slate bar top will allow staff to easily curate and label unique flights, while giving guests the option to take notes on favorite pours. Maxwell will feature floor-to-ceiling windows and a small patio.

For more information about Maxwell Park, visit maxwellparkdc.com and follow the bar on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@maxwellpark_navyyard). Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Maxwell Park will be open Monday to Thursday from 4pm-12am, Friday-Saturday from 4pm-1am and 4pm-11pm on Sunday.

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About Brent Kroll
Most recently, Brent was named a 2018 Food & Wine Sommelier of the Year. He has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Washingtonian, The Washington Post, Wine & Spirits, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator and more, and was named a Rising Star by StarChefs.com in 2014. Prior to opening Maxwell in June 2017, Brent oversaw 16 wine programs for the Neighborhood Restaurant Group where he designed the wine for the (then) newly reopened Iron Gate, a historic landmark that was once the longest operating restaurant in DC. In 2015, Iron Gate was awarded Wine Program of the Year by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and Top Wine Program in the DC region by DC Modern Luxury, and was also recognized as one of the Best Wine Restaurants in America by Wine Enthusiast. Brent brings a depth of knowledge and restaurant experience to his current position. Before coming on the scene in DC, Brent helped open the Michael Mina Group’s Saltwater concept at the MGM Grand in Detroit, worked at Bourbon Steak at the Fairmont Turnberry Country Club in Miami and took his first head sommelier position at Casa Tua in South Beach. Upon arriving in the nation’s capital in 2008, Brent quickly made a name for himself with renowned restaurateur Ashok Bajaj. During that time, Brent oversaw the wine program at Ardeo/Bardeo and later at The Oval Room, where he also created the cocktail menu. In 2010, Brent accepted the position of wine director at Adour by Alain Ducasse at The St. Regis Hotel where he oversaw the sommelier team and designed the beverage program for the hotel. After shifts, you might find him enjoying, Fiorini "Terre al Sole" Lambrusco di Castelvetro. The beauty of this wine is that it's simple and everything he wants it to be, plus it's a classic pairing for charcuterie. If you hear Cam'ron's "Hey Ma" on at the bar, that's Brent's song selection.

Contact: Brent Kroll, Owner & Sommelier Phone: 248-953-3809
Email: brent@maxwellparkdc.com | Website: www.maxwellparkdc.com | IG/FB/Twitter: @maxwellpark_navyyard
Address: 1346 4th Street SE, WDC

Jurisdiction:
Washington DC