McCooeys Take Art, Merchandise Online


The restaurant design group, headed by Karen and Richard McCooey, is branching out into sales of classic American art prints and sports merchandise. You may know the McCooey name, as Richard founded three Georgetown classics: 1789, the Tombs and F. Scott’s, now owned by Clyde’s Restaurant Group.

The McCooeys’ new website, featuring the first names of the couple, went live a few months ago. It is filled with artwork of the golden age of illustration that can be seen at the Tombs — along with a new product line. While selling art, the site also is offering sports shirts that salute such sports as rowing, tennis and golf as well as giving women athletes their due.

“We wanted to represent men’s and women’s success, achievement and strength,” said Karen McCooey. “It is called ‘The Trophy Ceremony.’ . . . It’s time for women to have their own emblem, not a man riding a polo pony.”

The art selection starts with rowing, some of it is new, and shows the sport’s camaraderie. There’s more art coming, and the site will be expand its apparel selection, Karen said. “The prints romanticize the best of American sports, especially collegiate,” she said.

One of the grandest prints, available for sale, is “Georgetown University at the Millennium,” an aerial view of the main campus and the Potomac with historic Healy Building at the center.

It’s a natural leap for the pair, as a McCooey-designed restaurant is alive with art, illuminating the soul of the place, its history or its owners. Some of those places include work at various Clyde’s restaurants, the Tap Room of the George Town Club, Union Street Cafe in Alexandria, the Tap Room at the Greenbrier — and as far away as the Polo Club at the Marriott Grand Aurora Hotel in Moscow.

“I’m a sporting person,” said Karen, who is an artist herself and wants the art and apparel to be a celebration of sports, just like the Tombs, where you can catch the couple dining regularly.

Visit RichardandKarenMarie.com for more details.

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