Ray's Hell Burger Closes: Arlington Burger Joint Shutters After Landlord-Tenant Dispute

WASHINGTON -- A much-loved Arlington, Va., burger joint previously patronized by President Obama, Vice President Biden and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has closed its doors.

ARLNow.com has details about the shuttering of Ray's Hell Burger:

The closure is the result of a landlord-tenant dispute between restaurateur Michael Landrum and his landlord, the historic Colonial Village Shopping Center. Court records show that Landrum filed a lawsuit against the shopping center on Nov. 16. Yesterday afternoon, the shopping center locked Landrum and his staff out of both storefronts.

"Landlord has changed the locks," said signs on the door. "Do not unlock this door under penalty of damages."

Landrum told ARLNow.com that menu items from Ray's Hell Burger can be found at Ray's to the Third nearby. He didn't elaborate on the nature of the dispute with his landlord though he characterized the closure as a "very minor blip."

Landrum's other D.C.-area restaurants include Ray's the Steaks in Arlington and Ray's the Classics in Silver Spring, Md.