Schneider's of Capitol Hill

Beverage ManufacturingUnited States2-10 Employees

Schneider’s of Capitol Hill is a family enterprise owned by brothers Rick and Jon Genderson. They now have been joined by Rick’s son Josh, who is the fourth generation in the business. All three are proud residents of Capitol Hill.

The Genderson family has a long and storied history on the Hill that dates back to the dim decades before Prohibition. In 1915, Rubin Genderson, Jon and Rick’s grandfather, purchased a bar on the corner of 10th and C Streets, SE. Known as Walter’s, the establishment sold beer brewed down the street at the National Capitol Brewing Company. Rubin’s family lived above the bar.

Unfortunately for Rubin, Prohibition arrived in the District in 1917. It forced Rubin to officially sell “near” beer. In the meantime, the real stuff continued to be brewed upstairs in the bathtub. The police occasionally fined the bartenders, but otherwise life proceeded. Rubin, however, decided the tailoring business was a safe bet and moved to the Stanton Park area. His brothers eventually divested themselves of the bar altogether.

In 1949, Abe Genderson, Rubin’s son, returned to the liquor business in partnership with his father-in-law, Max Schneider. Their new establishment was known as Schneider’s. There were only two other employees, Jon’s and Rick’s mother Charlotte and Ester, their grandmother.

Schneider’s has now been a Capitol Hill institution for over 60 years. Jon, Rick and Josh maintain the same commitment to customer service, selection and low prices as did Max and Abe.

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