Political Patties, a bar on U Street in Washington, D.C., is closing its doors after less than three months of operation. The owners, Sydney Bradford and Andrew Benbow, cite online outrage as a major factor in their decision to shut down. The bar was meant to be a nonpartisan space for political discourse, but after facing backlash and criticism online, the couple decided to end the experiment.
Despite their belief in bipartisanship and the concept of Political Patties, Bradford and Benbow feel that the timing and location were not right for their establishment. The bar received negative attention from the start due to its logo featuring a GOP elephant and a Democrat donkey. Although they made changes to address the criticism, the bar never fully recovered.
The couple expressed no regrets about their venture and emphasized their commitment to the concept of Political Patties, even though the bar did not succeed. They plan to announce the future of the space on their Instagram page in the coming days.
In addition to the online backlash, roofing issues at the bar and personal losses in their families also contributed to the decision to close. Bradford and Benbow, who are attorneys, intend to return to the legal profession.
With a vacancy rate of 7 percent along the U Street Main Street corridor, the closure of Political Patties adds to the available retail spaces in the area. Despite the challenges they faced, the couple remains optimistic about the future of their concept and the spirit of Political Patties.
Source
Photo credit www.fox5dc.com