Thompson Restaurants takes stewardship of L’Auberge Chez François

Thompson Restaurants president Warren Thompson is taking over as steward of L’Auberge Chez François in Great Falls, Virginia. The transition, beginning this month, aims to preserve the long-standing French dining institution rather than reinvent it.

Executive chef Jacques Haeringer will remain in leadership, maintaining the restaurant’s Alsatian menu, staff, and overall dining experience. The establishment, originally founded by François Haeringer in Washington, D.C., in 1954 before moving to its current Great Falls location in 1976, has served as a regional culinary staple for decades.

Thompson, a longtime guest of the restaurant, stated his role is to ensure the establishment continues in the same spirit for future generations. Thompson Restaurants operates several other regional brands, including Makers Union, Milk & Honey, and Matchbox.