As of this morning, The Red Derby showed very little evidence of its upcoming grand opening this evening at 6 p.m. The only thing separating itself from the laundromat and carryout on either side is a red logo painted above the doorway. The painting is so simple a child could have drawn it – is it a zit? A misshapen condom? Or perhaps the rear shot of a sleeping hippo? It’s actually a derby – or “bowler” – hat, like the famous brown version from Los Angeles. The homemade paint job belies the thought and effort owners Sasha Carter and David Leventry bore to bring a welcome addition to the Petworth and Columbia Heights neighborhoods.

The rumors of the new bar have been swirling around community message boards for nearly a year now. Following The Red Derby’s updates on the Columbia Heights community forum, the bar has gone through an excruciatingly slow process of proposals, licenses, and inspections.

“Imagine spending a few hours at the DMV everyday for a year,” Carter said.