To that end, Pike and McDaniel will attend a virtual meeting with the community, hosted by Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) Jennifer Samolyk (6B01). “We are aware that the two of us won’t be building this space –so we’re open to feedback.” “There aren’t enough safe spaces in night life,” said McDaniel, who together with Pike hopes the three floors on Pennsylvania Avenue will become that space. Pennsylvania Avenue gay bar Remington’s closed in 2014 after 34 years. SE) shuttered in February 2016, then the oldest continuously operating lesbian bar in DC and in the US (McDaniel was an employee).
In August 2019 LGBT bar the Orchid (520 Eighth St. Buzzard Point LGBTQ nightclub Ziegfeld’s-Secrets also closed its doors indefinitely in 2020.Īs You Are would bring the queer night scene back to the Hill, a torch now carried solely by the friendly space at Mr. “But more so, to provide a space where communities can connect, on all levels and that’s the neighborhood.”ĭC’s LGBT night scene, already dwindling, was further decimated during the pandemic when the DC Eagle, the city’s longest continuously operating gay bar, announced it was permanently closing. “The mission is to provide a safe space for queer people –which we are,” said Jo McDaniel, who will co-found the bar with partner in life and in business Rach Pike. Two Capitol Hill residents are preparing to open a queer lounge/cafe/bar on Pennsylvania Avenue.Īs You Are is slated for 319 Pennsylvania Ave.
Update: July 14– The Hill is Home has copies of a lawsuit from former tenant Handle19 that is pending, but As You Are Bar reps said they had not heard any reasoning behind termination of discussions as of that morning. The property owner did not respond to a request for comment. Update, July 13: at the July 13th meeting of ANC 6B, 6B01 Commissioner Jennifer Samolyk told attendees that the landlord for 319 Pennsylvania Ave SE had decided to offer the lease to another party besides As You Are Bar. A pedestrian walks by 319 Pennsylvania Ave SE in September, 2020.