Cusbah, a family-owned Indian-Pakistani restaurant located in Northeast DC’s H Street Corridor, is set to permanently shut down on November 15.
“Unfortunately, 2020 presented circumstances that we could never have predicted, and while we have fought to keep our doors open we are unable to continue,” said Soophia Hussain, who owns the restaurant, in a statement.
Cusbah was opened in 2012 by Hussain’s father Tariq Hussain and cousin Sarosh Hussain. She was 22 years old at the time and started working at the business as a food runner.
She ended up becoming Cusbah’s sole owner and “worked to redefine our identity and push our heritage as a Pakistani restaurant run by a Pakistani American woman,” according to her statement.
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The beloved restaurant which offered halal kebabs turned to takeout and delivery after the coronavirus pandemic hit the District. However, it failed to keep operating.
“Thank you to all of our wonderful patrons, friends and family for being a part of our little village,” Hussain said.
Cusbah handed out hundreds of meals to racial justice protesters this summer, according to Eater DC.
Cusbah is not the only DC restaurant that was forced to call it quits due to financial troubles stemming from the pandemic. Among those are America Eats Tavern, BBQ Bus, Beefsteak (Dupont Circle), Bistro Bohem, Cafe Soleil, Matchbox, Nocturne, Poca Madre, Seventh Hill, and many others.