Bar Pilar opened here back in March 2005 and sold to new owners in 2019.
Holy smokes, thanks to otberbur for sharing with us:
“Posted on the door of Bar Pilar. Looking dicey!”
1833 14th Street, NW
Flashback to 2015:
to 2010:
SOME HISTORY:
“First…. This is Mike Benson… Bar Pilar came to be in 2004. It was a hootch Latin call girl spot on 14th street for several years. I took it over after the owner wanted to move it away from the glare of gentrification and back to a shadow location… and I wanted to expand Cafe Saint-Ex in the neighborhood. Saint Exupery to Hemingway…. With Black Cat Black Cat next door… originally.
Second… the bar was originally from an American University pool hall, it was an island bar that we deconstructed into a 40 foot long bar…. Adding the overhang deco flourish. It had a vintage phot booth and original murals by my art school colleague, Beth Ross. Raven Arts was upstairs. It became a haven for artists and musicians. Dave Grohl loved that we had Icelandic Brennivin (still not quite legal in the US). It was a dive bar that Hem would have a drink or six at… his grandson said so when he came in and I thought I would get a cease n desist on images owned by the Hemingway family… he gave us his blessing!
Third… I moved back to North Carolina in 2008 and eventually sold my shares out by 2014. It still reigns as one of my favorite bars… ever. Intimate. Worldly. Great staff. Funky vibe. Not too expensive. And it had SOUL!
Fourth… landlord Charles was a nut, but a good nut. We got along and everything worked. How the Hell did they not pay rent for 25 months and Charles not go in and just embarrass them… I’m assuming Charles has passed away… and I send my love to his family… he was a believer. But you had to pay rent.
God bless Bar Pilar (I was going just call it Pilar after his 38’ boat… but most people would call it “Pillar” … so putting Bar in front of Pilar let it roll. I hope someone can take it and love it. I filled it with strange nautical artifacts and taxidermy Marlin that would make the crappiest bar kinda cool.
Cheers!”
STAY TUNED.