The Matchcover Storyteller

Here’s a 30-strike, front strike matchcover from Costin’s Sirloin Room in Washington DC.  Mickey and Betty Costin opened the restaurant in 1955. They called it the “finest dining in the entire Eastern United States”, the restaurant designed by Betty and the menu by Mickey and their menu told customers “You are our King”!

They had previously opened the also eponymously-named Costin’s Restaurant in 1932!  That one was said to be most famous for a Hungarian Chicken Paprikash. 

Costins’s Sirloin Room was sold to investors in 1961 who later opened The Three Thieves (so called because they “stole” recipes from other eateries)…you may have matchcovers from both.

The National Press Club was founded in 1908; its National Press Building was built in 1927, with retail space (hence space for Costin’s Sirloin Room), office space for news organizations and the Club itself was on the 13th and 14th floors.

While I only have this one, I know of at least 3 other distinctive matchcovers for Costin’s Sirloin room.