WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nestled quietly on Benning Road NE, between a supermarket, a bank, and the Northeast Performing Arts Group headquarters, sits a modest white brick building adorned with vibrant murals. From the outside, it might go unnoticed. But to many longtime residents east of the Anacostia River, it’s more than just a building—it’s history, culture, and community. Welcome back to Chateau Lounge, a cherished neighborhood institution reborn under the leadership of Kia Wallace and Lasharn Monroe.
A Venue with Legacy and Heart
Founded in 1967 by Seresa “Nut” Coleman, the original Chateau quickly became a community hub for River Terrace and surrounding neighborhoods. Once a Jumbo Food Store, the space transformed into a social landmark where locals gathered for hand dancing, community events, and Coleman’s legendary summer cookouts.
Hand dancing—a D.C. tradition blending Motown rhythm with the technical flair of swing and jitterbug—was central to Chateau’s appeal. So much so that in 1999, the D.C. Council declared hand dancing the city’s official dance. Former Mayor Vincent Gray himself was known to slip into Chateau on Friday nights for a quiet dance among friends.
“It was the place to be,” recalls Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, executive director of the African American Music Association. “Nut was all about the community. Everyone knew him. He brought us together.”
A Stage for Stories and Social Change
Chateau wasn’t just a nightclub—it was a place where history and heritage were kept alive. In 2019, author and historian Michelle Hall staged a dramatic reenactment at the venue, portraying Georgetta von Blasingame, one of the first Black residents to integrate River Terrace after the 1948 Supreme Court ruling in Shelley v. Kramer. The performance spotlighted the harsh realities of racial integration and celebrated the resilience of early Black families.
“We turned a painful article into something living and communal,” said Hall. “We added flavor, made people feel it.”
From Chateau to Chateau Remix—and Back
After Coleman passed in 2016, Tijuana Price-Salmon and Olivia Brown-Payton briefly took the reins, renaming the space Chateau Remix and vowing to continue its legacy. But by 2020, the pandemic forced a shutdown. For years, the building sat mostly idle, used only sporadically for private functions.
Then came Wallace and Monroe, two friends and longtime patrons of Chateau, who breathed new life into the beloved space.
“I’ve been coming here every Friday for 26 years,” Monroe says. “It was my happy place. When the opportunity came, we said yes without hesitation.”
Their prior commitment to the community was already well-known. In 2017, the duo hosted a back-to-school event at Chateau, distributing 365 backpacks, free haircuts, and meals for neighborhood kids—all paid for from their own pockets. “We did it from our paychecks,” Monroe says, still beaming with pride. “We gave those kids a great start.”
A Vision for the Future
The new managers are reimagining Chateau Lounge not just as an entertainment venue, but as a multi-use community hub that serves cultural, educational, and economic needs. Inside the maze-like layout—filled with stairways, hidden rooms, and spacious kitchens—they see infinite possibility.
Wallace envisions local visual artists using the venue’s walls as canvases. They’ve already carved out space for LGBTQIA+ programming, including drag performances with dedicated dressing areas. In the kitchen, they hope to collaborate with Chef Anthony Thomas, known for his viral culinary creations, for pop-up dining events.
Meanwhile, Monroe highlights the massive walk-in refrigerator, a reminder of Chateau’s potential to host events that feed both bodies and souls.
Their programming plan includes:
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Weekly game nights
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Teen movie nights in the summer
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Southern Soul and live music shows
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Educational forums
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River Terrace Community Organization meetings
Wallace is also registering Chateau Lounge as a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE), which will help the venue secure city contracts and channel revenue back into the community.
Preparing for the Future of RFK
As the District debates the redevelopment of RFK Stadium, Wallace and Monroe are thinking strategically. Like many Ward 7 and 8 residents, they’ve attended Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) strategy sessions and voiced concerns that the proposed redevelopment might not offer tangible job opportunities to locals.
But as women with backgrounds in construction, they see the potential—and want their community to be prepared. That’s why they’re planning to transform Chateau Lounge into a skills training hub.
“Our goal is for people to train here during the day and work at RFK when the development begins,” says Wallace.
Their vision includes offering:
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Flagger certification
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OSHA safety training
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CPR courses
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Career placement support
“We want it known that we’re more than a dance spot,” Monroe adds. “We’re here to teach, to empower, and to prepare.”
Reclaiming the Chateau Legacy
In spirit, the rebirth of Chateau Lounge isn’t just about reopening a venue—it’s about reclaiming a legacy, one deeply intertwined with the story of a resilient, creative, and united community. Wallace and Monroe, once loyal customers, are now stewards of that legacy, determined to see it thrive again.
“This is our grand house,” Monroe says. “It may not have gold-trimmed doors or French balconies, but it has heart—and it belongs to the people.”
As the doors of Chateau Lounge swing open once more, the echoes of hand dancers, storytellers, and community advocates fill the space—not as distant memories, but as promises of what’s yet to come.
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