Navigating the vibrant culinary scene of Washington D.C.’s H Street NE can be an exciting adventure, filled with diverse flavors and hidden gems. But for those seeking a classic American breakfast or a comforting deli experience, the quest might lead to a rather unique crossroads – or rather, cross-street situation involving two establishments, both proudly bearing the name “Tony’s.”
Imagine Anu Joshi and Angela Butcher, two roommates embarking on a farewell brunch at what they believed to be the highly-Yelp-rated “Tony’s on H Street NE.” Drawn in by promising online reviews and mouth-watering photos, they found themselves at the corner of 14th and H, address in hand: 1387 H St. NE. No “Tony’s” in sight. Confusion turned to intrigue as they spotted a sign across the street for Tony’s Place. Stepping inside the cozy, azure-walled deli, adorned with specials in a playful Comic Sans font, they settled in, ordering from the counter. It was only then, glancing out the window, that they noticed another bright orange awning proclaiming Tony’s Breakfast, subtly tucked away just across the main thoroughfare.
Image: Roommates Anu Joshi and Angela Butcher share a meal at Tony’s Place on H Street NE, unknowingly choosing the ‘other’ Tony’s for their farewell brunch.
They were, delightfully, at the “wrong” Tony’s.
Despite the initial mix-up, Joshi and Butcher thoroughly enjoyed their hearty breakfast at Tony’s Place, charmed by the friendly service and the serendipitous discovery. “I would come back here,” Butcher declared, embracing the unexpected turn of events. “Some things are meant to be, and this is the place that we came to, so this is our farewell spot.” Already planning future visits, she gestured towards Tony’s Breakfast across the street, “I guess I’ll have to go to that one without you.”
“Yes,” Joshi agreed, “because when I come back, we’re definitely coming to this one.”
“I know, this is, like, our spot now.”
Across the street at Tony’s Breakfast, co-owner Justine Choe couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment upon hearing this anecdote. Her family’s restaurant was, after all, the recipient of the coveted 4.5-star Yelp rating that initially attracted Joshi and Butcher to the neighborhood. However, such mistaken identity scenarios are a daily occurrence. In a preemptive measure, Choe has even added a note on the back of their takeout menus: “Visit the One & Only Authentic Tony’s Not Affiliated with Tony’s Place.”
“We are the original owners,” Choe asserts, emphasizing their claim to the “Tony’s” legacy. “And we have the rights to say that.”
But just across the street, Tony’s Place boldly proclaims its own heritage with a sign above its doorway reading “The Original TONY’S PLACE.”
This intriguing culinary conundrum on H Street boils down to a shared name and a tangled history, rooted in decades of family businesses, Korean-American entrepreneurship, and the ever-evolving landscape of Washington D.C.’s dining scene.
The Genesis of “Tony’s”: From Virginia to H Street
The story of “Tony’s” begins with Suk Reddick, a Korean immigrant who arrived in America in 1976. Driven by a lifelong entrepreneurial spirit instilled from a young age after tragically losing both parents at eight, Suk opened the first “Tony’s” in Richmond, Virginia, in 1981. Working tirelessly across multiple jobs, she saved diligently to realize her dream of becoming her own boss.
The name “Tony’s” itself is a charming cultural nuance. In Korean tradition, mothers are often referred to by their eldest son’s name. Suk Reddick, “Tony’s mother,” found that English speakers naturally shortened this to simply “Tony,” mistakenly assuming it was her name. The moniker stuck, becoming synonymous with her growing restaurant ventures.
Over the years, Suk Reddick expanded the “Tony’s” brand across D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, encompassing grocery stores, diners, and carryout delis. The “Tony’s” on H Street NE initially opened in the late 1980s or early 1990s, although the exact year eludes her memory, at a location a block away on 13th Street NE. In 2001, she purchased the building at 1401 H St. NE, relocating the business to its current, albeit contested, address.
Tony Reddick, Suk’s son and the namesake of the empire, spent his formative years immersed in the family business. However, as time went on, the challenges of the restaurant industry and differing visions for its future led him to pursue a different path. He now works in medical research, but the “Tony’s” legacy remains deeply personal. With Tony stepping away from daily operations, Suk sought new management for the H Street location.
Image: Suk Reddick, the Korean-American entrepreneur who founded the Tony’s restaurant chain, reflecting on the history of her businesses.
A Decade of Dedication and a Contentious Split
In 2003, Robert and Kay Choe, Justine Choe’s parents, Korean immigrants with prior experience running carryouts in Baltimore and other food businesses in D.C., purchased “Tony’s on H Street” from Suk Reddick. They continued to operate it under the same name at 1401 H St. NE, leasing the building from Reddick. For a decade, the Choes poured their hearts into the business, fostering a strong community connection.
“Our family, we put love into the business,” Justine Choe explains, emphasizing their hands-on approach and genuine care for their customers. “That’s why when people come in, they know our names. We know the community, and it’s gotten to the point where people have become like our family around here.” Under their stewardship, “Tony’s on H Street” flourished, earning local acclaim and those coveted online accolades.
As the lease neared its end in 2013, negotiations between the Choes and Reddick regarding renewal or potential purchase of the building unfortunately broke down. The amicable relationship soured, forcing the Choe family to seek a new location. Kay Choe vividly recalls the stress of the situation: “I’m so stressed. One month, I can’t eat. I can’t sleep.”
Determined to remain close to their established customer base on H Street, the Choes found a vacant space directly across the street at 1387 H St. NE. Within an impressive two months, they reopened as “Tony’s Breakfast,” adding “Breakfast” to highlight their popular morning menu and differentiate themselves slightly. Having invested a decade in building the “Tony’s” reputation on H Street, they felt a strong sense of entitlement to the name.
“Everybody at this point is Tony,” Justine Choe states, reflecting on her own long-term involvement since the age of 13. “I would consider my father more the real Tony than the actual Tony, because my mom and my dad built up this business for years, and they made it what it is.”
The “Original” Claim and a Cross-Street Rivalry
The Choes’ decision to retain the “Tony’s” name, albeit with the “Breakfast” addition, came as a surprise to the Reddicks. Tony Reddick recounts the moment of discovery with disbelief: while renovating the original building at 1401 H St. NE, a contractor inquired about a temporary “Tony’s” location across the street. Confused, Reddick investigated and was stunned to see “Tony’s Breakfast” in operation. “I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ That’s my name, OK?’” he recalls, emphasizing the personal connection to the moniker. “There’s no one in the family named Tony. That’s my name. That’s my mother’s business name. And you open right across the street. Seriously?… The only reason they kept that name is they’re using the reputation of my mother, which I think is sad.”
Subsequently, Suk Reddick leased 1401 H St. NE to Etelvina Quintanilla, a long-time employee who had worked for her for 21 years and had also briefly worked for the Choes before being let go. Quintanilla, already operating another “Tony’s Place” location on Kennedy Street NW acquired from the Reddicks years prior, sought permission to use the “Tony’s” name for the H Street shop. Suk Reddick granted it, reasoning, “Go ahead… Why not?… How are they going to own the name? I don’t own the name. Nobody owns the name.” Neither party had trademarked the name “Tony’s.”
While the Kennedy Street location didn’t concern the Choes, the emergence of “Tony’s Place” directly across the street on H Street was a shock. Just months after “Tony’s Breakfast” reopened, a sign appeared on their former building: “Tony’s Place coming soon.”
“I was like, ‘Wow, OK’… We were just thinking it’s kind of low of her,” Choe admits, expressing her family’s dismay at what they perceived as the landlord’s influence in the naming decision. Just because the new owner knew the original “Tony’s” founder, it didn’t automatically make it the “original” business in their eyes.
Image: Justine Choe, co-owner of Tony’s Breakfast, stands outside her family’s restaurant on H Street NE, highlighting their claim as the “authentic” Tony’s.
Etelvina Quintanilla, however, views the situation with a pragmatic American spirit. “That’s America,” she shrugs. She justifies calling Tony’s Place the “original” based on her own long history with the original H Street business, considering it her first job in the industry.
While Justine Choe briefly considered legal action, the perceived cost and effort deterred her. Instead, she turned to social media, actively promoting “Tony’s Breakfast” as the “real Tony’s.”
Customer Loyalty and the Taste Test
For many patrons, the online buzz and word-of-mouth have swayed their allegiance towards Tony’s Breakfast. Neighbor Joey Lee, picking up an order, explains, “I started coming here because I read the Yelp reviews that this place used to be over there, and that place is now imitating them and not as good.”
Tony’s Breakfast regular Michael Mercer, an electrician who travels from Southern Avenue SE three times a week, echoes this sentiment. “I always come here. The food’s better… If you look at the business that these people get compared to over there, I don’t see anybody going over there.” He recounts a single visit to Tony’s Place, implying it was enough to solidify his preference.
Despite the loyal following, Justine estimates that the confusion caused by Tony’s Place has resulted in a 10 to 15 percent decrease in business – a significant impact for a local eatery.
However, customer loyalty isn’t solely dictated by history or online reviews. Sherri Jordan, enjoying lunch at Tony’s Place with her children, exemplifies a different perspective. A Virginia resident who has frequented “Tony’s” for years whenever in the area, she was simply happy to see it reopened after renovations. Unaware of the ownership and location changes, she accidentally ordered from Tony’s Breakfast once, mistakenly believing it was Tony’s Place. Upon realizing her error, she didn’t bother to retrieve the order from across the street. Her preference remained with Tony’s Place, regardless of the backstory.
Adding to the ongoing saga, neither the Choes nor the Reddicks/Quintanilla have crossed the threshold of their rival establishment since the split. “I would never go in there,” Justine Choe declares.
Ultimately, Etelvina Quintanilla believes the choice rests with the customers. “The customer has to try the food. That’s all,” she states simply. “The customer goes wherever he feels.”
And so, on H Street NE, the tale of two Tony’s continues, a delicious, and slightly confusing, microcosm of local business, family legacy, and the enduring power of a name – and, of course, the enduring appeal of a good breakfast.
