Hank Dietle’s Tavern Devastated by Fire

Photo via Pete Piringer Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County (MD) Fire & Rescue Service

Devastating.

Pete Piringer Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County (MD) Fire & Rescue Service reported:

“Update (~245a) 11010 Rockville Pike, Hank Dietle’s; Cause, accidental, discarded smoking materials; Area of Origin, front porch (exterior); Damage, Total $500K, incl $400K bldg, $100K contents; no injury; ~65 FFs OS; passerby called 911”

Photo via Pete Piringer Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County (MD) Fire & Rescue Service

Hank Dietle’s website says:

Photograph by Christopher Leaman via Hank Dietle’s Tavern

“Come see something that’s been here since 1916!

Hank Dietle’s opened in the 1950s and has been a staple of the White Flint/North Bethesda community ever since. The tavern’s beer and wine license is numbered 001. The tavern is a bungalow with a porch, pool table, pin ball machine & on many nights live music. People complain that the world is changing to fast. If you are one of those people come to Dietles! Dietles is pretty constant and has not changed its decor to keep up with the latest trends. It retains its comfortable atmosphere and is a great place to meet friends and make new ones from all walks of life. Need a place to gather for a celebration? Dietles has allowed many a group to show up and host their event at Dietles. No fees but you are expected to buy your liquid refreshments from the bar.

The building was constructed in 1916, and first housed a general store, with two gas pumps outside. It was owned and operated by Edward Offutt; he and his family lived in a house next door. he actual bar in the tavern predates the building. In the 1940s, a fire destroyed the original bar. So, the owner at the time — prior to Hank Dietle — traveled to Baltimore to buy a “new” bar. He found one about 100 years old and it was sawed down to fit where it sits today. Tony Huniak, who began going to the tavern in the 1970s, purchased Dietle’s in the 1990s to save the neighborhood bar from closing.

Drinkers have three choices: beer, wine or water. Food? Chips. The Tavern plans to start serving meals in coming months!”

Update (~245a) 11010 Rockville Pike, Hank Dietle’s; Cause, accidental, discarded smoking materials; Area of Origin, front porch (exterior); Damage, Total $500K, incl $400K bldg, $100K contents; no injury; ~65 FFs OS; passerby called 911 pic.twitter.com/0chCSLR0tZ

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) February 14, 2018