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Dec 10, 2025

Building a Legacy

The Quander Family Story at Alexandria’s
1799 Prime Steak & Seafood

Jay Quander in front of 1799 Prime Steak & Seafood restaurant
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Looking around the buzzing dining room, bustling kitchen and bar brimming with regulars, Jahmond “Jay” Quander calls his restaurant “an adult playground.” Amidst plush, inviting booths and blindfolded wine tastings, titles disappear at 1799 Prime Steak & Seafood, steps from King Street in Old Town Alexandria. “We welcome guests from every walk of life,” Jahmond says, “from CEOs of Fortune 500 companies to top generals to local retirees.” 

The Quander Family

As a member of one of the oldest documented African American families in the United States, Jahmond’s background is as storied as his guests’. The Quander family traces their lineage back roughly 350 years to Egya Amkwandoh, a member of the Ghanian Fanti tribe in West Africa, who was abducted as part of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and taken to colonial Maryland in the 1670s. He is thought to have answered, “Amkwandoh,” when asked his name, leading to the misinterpretation, “I am Quando.” The next few generations of Quanders were called “Quando,” and the surname eventually shifted to the present-day pronunciation of “Quander” during the early 19th century.  

Among his relations, Jahmond counts Nellie Quander, who helped incorporate the legendary Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority in 1909 while at Howard University. His family tree also includes members of the iconic Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators in the Air Force, trained at Tuskegee, Alabama, during World War II.  

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Generations before Nellie Quander founded AKA and the Tuskegee Airmen took to the sky, one branch of the Quander family was enslaved at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Earlier in his career, Jahmond himself worked as the Director of Food & Beverages at the first president’s estate. Now, he reflects, “The restaurant represents my life’s work, spanning 30+ years.” It also reflects his family’s legacy. As guests enter 1799 Prime Steak & Seafood and stroll past the bar to the dining area, they can see a custom mural illustrating the family’s diaspora, leading up to 1799’s opening in 2022, just eight miles from Mount Vernon. 

“[While working at Mount Vernon], there were days that were very surreal as I would look out at the majestic scenery.” Jahmond indicates the polished table below the delicate wine glasses and gleaming cutlery, a swirling gradient of rich brown hues. “This table right here is made of walnut wood. There’s a walnut tree at George Washington’s Mount Vernon that the enslaved community would sit under on Sundays and have Sunday supper. That is the same tree where the preserved berries were found. Our tables are made of walnut wood and are telling a continuation of that story.”

Commemorating America’s 250th Birthday

Jay Quander and Sonny Tena inside of 1799 Prime Steak & Seafood restaurant.

The restaurant takes its name from the year 1799, when George Washington died and the 123 people enslaved at Mount Vernon were emancipated, as per Washington’s will. Twenty-three years earlier, General Washington was leading the Continental Army in Manhattan as the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. 

2026 marks America’s 250th birthday, and Alexandria joins the D.C. region and the nation with special events and programming commemorating the milestone, showcasing how the city has played a major role in the nation’s story and reflects its progress toward inclusivity.  

While 250 years fall short of the Quander family’s 350 years of recorded history, Jahmond eagerly anticipates the excitement and activation the 250th promises for Alexandria. “We are nestled in a perfect spot,” he says. “We’re so close to D.C., the monuments, the Pentagon, and eight miles from George Washington’s Mount Vernon—that is incredible. Our history is so rich. The 250th celebration is going to be absolutely amazing. This city is going to be full of people.” 

“The community as a whole is supportive,” Jahmond continues. “We can call a restaurant or hotel if we’re low on linens, for example, and vice versa. Everyone rallies for each other.” He names Vola’s Dockside Grill, Virtue Feed & Grain and 219 Restaurant as some of his favorite spots to frequent. For diners at 1799, he points to the blackened whiskey shrimp as a can’t-miss dish from Chef and Co-owner Sonny Tena, incorporating sourdough bread and a mouthwatering mustard cream sauce. 

Jahmond’s mission is simple: “We’re giving visitors something to remember.” As if on cue, a server steals the dining room’s attention as they light a rum and rosemary concoction aflame, much to the guests’ delight. What is the cocktail’s name?  “I am Quando.”

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