Hill’s Kitchen Is Changing Hands

Hill’s Kitchen Is Changing Hands

By Larry Janezich

Posted May 30, 2025

Hill’s Kitchen, 713 D Street, SE, 

Leah Daniels:  “After 17+ years of owning Hill’s Kitchen, it is time for me to pass the baton. I am thrilled to introduce amazing people to continue the legacy of Hill’s Kitchen. After this weekend, Sarah and Miles will be the new owners of the store.”

Leah Daniels, founder and owner of Hill’s Kitchen’s and dedicated community supporter and advocate, announced today that she has sold Hill’s Kitchen to Sarah Needles and Miles Hamilton.  She said her last day as proprietor of the store will be Sunday and the sale goes to closing on Tuesday.  She said she has no idea what she will do next – the store has been so consuming:  “I’m so in the weeds but I haven’t thought about anything – that’s part of the problem – that the store is everything and all-encompassing that there’s no chance to think about what’s next.  There’s no chance to think strategically or plan so I have to let it go to let other opportunities open up.” 

She added, “This is a happy moment but I’m devastated,” she said tearfully.  “I love this store of course that’s why this is so hard.  I’m not leaving the neighborhood…I want people to be able to find me. Maybe I’ll have office hours at Tunicliffs or Peregrine or somewhere else,” she laughs.  She says to her customers, “Stop by the store and come say goodbye to me over the weekend.” 

Asked why she decided to sell, Daniels says “This is 100% my choice.  I don’t know, I’m just looking to open up the world’s other adventures.  The community has been amazing and supportive through 17 plus years. I started working on the store – I incorporated the week after I turned 26 – so it’s just time for a new adventure.  Sarah and Miles are going to be amazing stewards for the space and hopefully bring new space and life to it.  They’ve made it clear to me that it is important to them to keep the keep the emotional heart of the store.” She says, “They’ll certainly focus on cooking classes and events and things – they have to figure out the space upstairs – but they have an energy that will be a wonderful addition to the community.”

Daniels expects that after closing on the sale the store will be closed for a number of days, “because they’ve got to get their sale system going – they need to learn how the lights work and then they’ll be up and running maybe the following Tuesday.”

CHC asked CM Charles Allen for a comment on the contributions Daniels has made to the community.  Allen says, “Oh my gosh.  Everybody loves Leah.  For 17 years she’s been the face of Hill’s Kitchen and created just a beloved local business.  I think we’re blessed to have people like her that invest the time.  I also think after 17 years of knowing every single person that walks through the door, what they thought, what they like, the allergies they may have, and how they like to cook, I’m excited for her to figure out what her next chapter is going to be.  And I know she has she has been very intentional to make sure that the store and what it means to everybody is going to be in good hands with the next owners.”

Statements by Sarah Needles and Miles Hamilton:

As the new stewards of Hill’s Kitchen, we hope that the heart of our store is shaped by the same passion and love for food that has always been at the center of our lives, whether in a bustling restaurant kitchen or around our cozy dining table at home. As former restaurant professionals, we’re here to offer up our expertise, share a few recipes, and provide a space where everyone—home cooks and professional chefs alike—can gather, learn, and celebrate the joy of cooking together. Our mission is simple: to make your kitchen experience richer, more joyful, and a little bit bigger—just like the dining room table we’ve always cherished. – Sarah and Miles

Sarah Needle moved to Washington DC after graduating from Smith College. Like many recent college graduates, she found a need for a part-time job and wound up at Hill’s Kitchen. There, and in her personal time, her cooking hobby turned into a true passion and career. Sarah cooked at A Rake’s Progress under Chef Opie Crooks, Mt. Pleasant favorite Elle, Tail Up Goat, a Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by Chef Jonathan Sybert, and then its sister restaurant Reveler’s Hour. While at Reveler’s Hour, Sarah’s food found its way into the New York Times, The Washingtonian, and the Washington Post.

Miles Hamilton cut their teeth in the New York dining scene when a nannying job serendipitously turned into their first cooking job at Houseman, under the guidance of Chefs Ned Baldwin and Adam Baumgart. After cooking at a number of beloved restaurants in New York City (Diner, Cervo’s, and Hart’s), Miles moved to Washington DC in 2019 to cook at Tail Up Goat and Reveler’s Hour, where they eventually made the switch from back to front of house. Miles managed the floor at Tail Up Goat before ultimately becoming the Service Director of Reveler’s Hour, where they were awarded the 2024 RAMW RAMMY Award for Best Service Program.