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.