Holy Cow The Red Derby Is Going To Be Awesome!

IMG_5615, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

As you may have heard The Red Derby, located at 3718 14th St. NW, is set to open this Tuesday at 6pm. So as I was walking by to take a look at the location I was lucky enough to run into a friend of the owners and then one of the owners showed up allowing me a sneak peak at the inside. It is phenomenal! If you are looking for another neighborhood bar you need look no further. This place doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles but what it does have will surely make you smile. It has a fantastic beer selection and a pool table in the back. I was surprised to learn that pool will only cost a dollar, very rare these days. They will have 33 types of beers all available in cans. However, if canned beer is not your style they also offer a full bar and wine service as well.

The owners are husband and wife team Sasha Carter and David Leventry. I was able to speak with Sasha who was previously the bar manager at Local 16. Sasha explained to me that Red Derby is committed to can beers because they offer a better price point. “Where else can you get an Amstel light or Heineken for 4 bucks”, she asked.

Some of the food available includes sweet potato fries, hamburgers, grilled cheese, veggie burgers, a foot long fish dog and a number of other choices. At the moment you will have to bring cash but if you are running low there will be an ATM on the premises. Fortunately the prices seem very reasonable. About 4 bucks for the fries and 8 bucks for a burger. And if you are scrapping the change drawer you can always have a 2 dollar Schlitz.

In the front room there will be a projector screen showing movies with the sound off and there will be a television in the backroom with the pool table. Sasha explained to me that her vision of a neighborhood bar, is one where people actually talk to each other and hang out rather than watch television. I really got a good vibe speaking with her and am super excited for them to open up. The location is an interesting one that falls directly in between Columbia Heights and Petworth at 14th and Quincy. I have no doubt that this place will attract plenty of folks from both neighborhoods. It looks like it is a genuine neighborhood bar where everyone will know your name. I can’t wait to crack my first can of Boddingtons!

And they even have super cool bathrooms.