Aug 25, 2006  |  By: KATHERINE VOLIN  | COMMENTS     

After a protracted effort to win a liquor license that pitted members of a nearby church against gay entrepreneurs in the Shaw neighborhood, BeBar plans to open its doors to the public on Sept. 1.

“We don’t have any more barriers,” says co-owner Tom McGuire. “We’re very excited. It’s been a big battle.”

After hearing word of the proposed bar in March, members of scripture Cathedral, a church just around the corner from BeBar, protested the bar’s pursuit of a liquor license, claiming that the bar would be disruptive to the neighborhood. BeBar is at 1318 9th St., NW, between N and O streets.

On Aug. 16, however, D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Control board issued an official written ruling approving BeBar’s liquor license.

Although they are pleased with the situation, BeBar’s owners are also cautious.

“It’s one of those situations where you never invest too much in any one piece of information, but rather the culmination of everything, which will be Aug. 31 at the grand opening,” says co-owner Mike Watson.

The event on Aug. 31 will be private — the bar opens to the general public on Sept. 1.

“It’s a preview to our Friday night event and for that we have another amazing night planned with a number of major corporate sponsors,” Watson says. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. There are so many people who are excited about our event.”

EACH NIGHT OF THE WEEK BeBar has a musical theme it plans to promote.

Mondays will feature musical numbers, Tuesdays bring indie music, Wednesdays will be electronica, Thursdays will show pop videos, Friday nights will feature music from the ‘80s and ’90s, Saturdays will be top 40 dance beats and Sundays will play old and new hits.

“We’re catered toward a mixed crowd. We don’t want to limit ourselves, but we do feel that our primary demographic will be gay men,” Watson says.

Tuesday nights, which will feature underground music, however, should bring a different crowd to the bar, according to Watson.

“Our indie night is going to feature a very mixed crowd of gay and straight.” Watson says.

BeBar features one 45-foot long bar, a small dance floor and a “glow wall,” an eight-foot by 12-foot video and light wall.

“It’s just a wall of light that pulsates all sorts of different colors,” McGuire says, adding that the wall is one of his favorite design aspects of the bar.

Watson fused several design elements to create BeBar’s atmosphere.

“It’s hotel chic,” Watson says. “It’s warm and simple and the design is really a collision of influence from mid-century modern to baroque.”

ALTHOUGH BEBAR INTENDS to be a neighborhood bar, Watson says he hopes its impact will be atypical.

“Ultimately, we just want to change what people expect,” Watson says. “We want to elevate the expectation of the type of venue that people deserve. We are working to blur the distinction between a neighborhood bar and an urban nightclub by taking the best from each to create a new genre of lounge.”

Along with his new genre of lounge, Watson says he hopes to see a new genre of customer.

“When you come here, you should look the part,” Watson says. “Take it seriously. We encourage people to have fun and play with fashion.”

Watson says he has selected a “knockout” staff of 30 out of 300 people who applied. The bar will specialize in “candy-themed” martinis and margaritas.

“We’re really excited about featuring our menu as well as our staff because a part of this venue is going to be coming from the scenery,” Watson says. “It’s the venue, it’s the staff, it’s the show.”

BeBar’s owners hope their bar serves as a destination, and don’t think their location in Shaw will be a problem.

“People used to get in their cars and drive down to Nation on Saturday nights, so this is easily accessible,” McGuire says. “It’s a block from the Metro [and there’s] lots of parking.”