In what was probably the last time Dr. Dremo’s Taphouse in Arlington would be open to the public, close to 100 spectators, friends and former patrons of Dr. Dremo’s Taphouse gathered around the indoor bar last night to give their last tributes to the staff and possibly take home a memento by which to remember the D.C.-area fixture. While a few came in search of a deal on a pool table, kitchen appliance, or set of bar furnishings, many of those who showed up came to watch the auction festivities and learn the fate of Dremo’s outdoor totem.

The atmosphere was chaotic yet jovial. Admittedly, the “auctioneers” noted their lack of auctioning experience early on in the night, as their main aim seemed to be to sell the larger items first and to deal with the knickknacks later. It was a far cry from a Sotheby’s auction. There were no lot numbers, no auction hammer, no British accents; just call out what you wanted and the bidding started right away.

First to go were several bar taps, each selling for $5 to $50. Each electronic darts game went for $50, ping pong ball dispensers for $50, two cases of balls for $25, the fish tanks for $40, and three brewing tanks for $100. Most notably, the silo top sold for $250, the shuffleboard game for $300, and only one of the eight (plus two disassembled) billiards tables met the $300 minimum price. The rest will be donated to various recreation centers.

As for the rest of the memorabilia, interest varied wildly. Beer posters went for as little as a few dollars while a framed picture of James Brown fetched $60. Parrots, globe lights, a disco ball, projectors, witty signs, chalk boards – all sold briskly.

And where will be the next, but not necessarily final, resting place of the Dremo’s totem? At the corner of Monroe and Roberts, in the backyard of an Arlington resident whose lone bid of $100 will be overshadowed by the costs of renting a crane and truck to move the 1000-pound wooden behemoth by Thursday evening.

Now that the bar has found a new home for much of its wares, the search continues for a new home for Dr. Dremo’s itself.

Photo by christaki