Update, 5/10/19: When Stoney’s own Luke Stone competes for Hannah’s affections next week, he’ll likely have a bar full of fans in his corner. The P Street restaurant is hosting a watch party for The Bachelorette’s premiere on Monday. As Popville shared, Stoney’s has posted flyers announcing that the TV in the dining room will be tuned to the ABC show at 8 p.m. Happy hour will be extended during the show, and additional drink deals include $5 for Stella Artois or sparkling rosé (maybe for good luck as Luke competes for a rose?).
Original: New Bachelorette Hannah Brown was a polarizing pick among viewers of the franchise. But even if you’re not a fan of her long, awkward date-night silences or weird habit of roaring like a lion, you might be interested in the local talent featured on this season.
Luke Stone, a contestant who has already mostly become known for making an uncomfortable sexual innuendo during his TV debut, is a part-time server at popular restaurant, Stoney’s on P Street. Popville was the first to report that he would appear on the reality show franchise, in which dozens of suitors compete to win the heart of that season’s bachelor or bachelorette.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Stone graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in political science, worked on the Hill as a staff assistant in the House of Representatives, and now works as a fundraising consultant at Fraioli & Associates.
Reese Edmonds, Stoney’s bar manager, confirmed to DCist that Stone left to film The Bachelorette approximately two weeks prior to the beginning of March, but management was sworn to secrecy on the subject.
Edmonds says that, whatever Bachelor Nation may think of the pick, Stone is excited to be competing for Brown’s affections.
“He wanted it to be Hannah,” she says. “When he told me, I was a little intrigued. He said he thought he knew who the girl was: ‘I do want it to be this chick from the South, her name is Hannah. She’s really cute and goofy.’ He really wanted it to be her.”
It’s unclear, however, how long Stone will last in the competition after his somewhat rocky introduction to Brown this week, during the finale episode of The Bachelor. “I know you’re from Alabama. I don’t go down south often, but for you I’d go down anytime,” he said.
“I don’t think he was really prepared for how they would portray him on the finale,” Edmonds says. “He’s not that type of guy.”
Stoney’s will be hosting The Bachelorette watch parties this season to celebrate Stone’s run on the show. The season is currently being filmed and will air May 13.
