May 16, 2005
Dremo's No More?
For the past few weeks we've heard rumors buzzing around that Dr. Dremo's, a favorite dive-y hang-out in Arlington, had been sold and would soon be closing its doors. This news distressed us, because where exactly are we supposed to go to play outdoor beer pong come summertime, huh?! In fact, we were so perturbed that we actually picked up a phone, grabbed a notepad, and did this reporting thing that's all the rage.
From our source deep within the labyrinthine bowels at Dremo's, we learned that the land where the bar is located had indeed been sold for an unnamed price to a local developer. However, it seems that the buyer has recently asked for an extension beyond the agreed-upon sell date of January '06, potentially delaying the sale and closing of Dremo's. Our source also told us that the plans for development have already been submitted to the county, but that the process for approval can often take over a year.
Then we have this, from Arlington Economic Development:
2000 Wilson Boulevard - Condominium Site Plan – Elm Street Development, Inc. has filed a site plan incorporating the Taco Bell and Dr. Dremo’s Tap House sites between Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard just east of N. Courthouse Road. The site plan is for a mixed use development of 174 residential units and 29,300 square feet of retail space. The applicant is seeking bonus density in consideration of LEED certification. (Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard east of N. Courthouse Road)
So it seems, unfortunately, that Dremo's will indeed be closing in the future, though the timing is unclear. The Dremo's employee that we spoke with said that the bar will definitely be looking for a new location, and that their side of the story and plans for the future should be posted this week on their website. Though Dremo's is the bar that overcame a three-month closure by the Arlington County fire and health inspectors for a severely leaky roof, we are a bit concerned for their future. Good property near a popular metrorail stop is hard to come by, and if Dremo's has to move elsewhere less accessible, it could change the atmosphere of one of our favorite Arlingtonian bars.
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Outdoor beer pong? Seriously? That is awesome!
Oh, great. Not only is the closest bar to my apartment closing, but it's also going to bring MORE construction to the area.
Would you mind doing some investigative reporting on what's going on with Brick's Tavern and the Park Bench Pub in Cleveland Park? If we lose one more run-down bar to development, I'm going to lose it.
Last night at the ANC meeting Atomic said they had plans to take over the basement of Park Bench pub, people are looking to buy Bricks. It seems that the owner of those bars went belly up. DC has now lost Crush, Park Bench, Bricks and Dremos, I think it is a conspiracy to take away fun cheap bars.
Crush? Cheap, yes. Fun, no.
Ah Crush had it moments of fun, and $1 beers on friday and saturday night was great
Atomic can have Park Bench's basement area. It's the little bar along Ordway that I'll miss. There is not a better place in Cleveland Park for a couple of beers after work, with the Simpsons and Jeopardy thrown in.
F**k Dremos! They're taking away my Taco Bell, the bastards! Bad enough my Dunkin Donuts disappeared, but now this? Who's gonna serve me Tacos at 1AM on a Tuesday night?
That is going to become a flower shop from what i here...
So the word is, Atomic closed on the lease for the entire property which was formerly park bench. The upper area, with access onto Ordway will indeed be a florists for at least the first year. It's just a sublease, so if Atomic does well enough they expand upwards from the basement and will have sweet sweet daylight.
I'm glad they'll be relocating, but Dremo's unique space is what makes it interesting. You don't find too many bars inhabiting sprawling ex-car dealerships.
Great News! Yet another good bar demolished to make way for young singles with no sense of individuality. In February, just in time for my birthday, they shut down Joseph's bar on Wilson, best bar in the area. There the bought us beers and gave my roomate kleenexs and candy after she broke up with her boyfriend, they helped me through loosing a good friend, there they would turn off the juke box during jeopardy. But thank god they tore that place down to build yet another Irish Pub!
feck. Where will the Psychotronic Tuesdays go?
like all these people are paying tons of money to tear down the shit that they were paying tons of money to be close to.
Oh good, just what North Arlington needs -- more luxury condos and national retail chains.
This area was once charming and fostered the small business owner. The Arlington I grew up in is a dim memory as I fight my way down Wilson Boulevard through cell-phone-chatting dolts driving BMWs on the way to the tanning salon or fecking Cheesecake Factory.