Business of Pride Small Business Award: Freddie's Beach Bar (Video)
Business of Pride Small Business Award: Freddie's Beach Bar (Video)
By Emily Van Zandt Special Projects Editor, Washington Business Journal
Jun 13, 2019, 9:00pm EDT
When Freddie Lutz first opened Freddies Beach Bar and Restaurant on 23rd Street in Crystal City in 2001, he wasnt looking to make a big splash. ... This was the neighborhood he grew up in, the neighborhood where he was known as maître d and manager of a favorite Italian spot.
Café Italia was very gay friendly. We did drag shows at Halloween and I had often talked to my boss about opening a gay bar, Lutz says. Finally, after 25 years, I told him I wanted to try something on my own. He was very supportive. ... Lutz opened up shop just down the street, advertising Freddies as a straight-friendly gay bar in Arlington. Lutz says there was no pushback from the neighborhood when the doors opened. ... I count myself lucky. I grew up in the neighborhood. People knew me, they knew I was gay, Lutz says. I had the support of the neighborhood, the police and the ABC department. We opened at the right moment.
But there was another surprise. Located just a few miles beyond the Pentagon, the bar began to draw a military crowd. And thanks to Lutzs advertising of the bar as straight-friendly, LGBTQ military members had a cover in the days before the repeal of the dont ask, dont tell policy. ... Gen. Tammy Smith told me, I dont think you know what you did when you opened this place, Lutz recalls, referencing the first gay general to openly serve in the U.S. military. ... On the day that dont ask, dont tell was repealed in 2010, Lutz remembers the crowd at Freddies. Generals were signing napkins commemorating the moment they were allowed to be out, finally, as members of the military. The napkins are still at Freddies and Lutz hopes to eventually frame them.
After 18 years, the bar is still going strong, known for its colorful interior, drag shows, karaoke and weekend champagne brunch. And its still a place where the gay community can come and talk about the issues theyre facing and host fundraisers.
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