Freddie’s Beach Bar Receives Support from COVID-19 Sports Barstool

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Barstool Sports’ COVID-19 aid fund helps keep the Beach Freddie’s Beach bar and restaurant in Crystal City afloat.

The friendly LGBTQ bar at 555 23rd Street S., known for Sunday brunch and drag queen shows, is one of nearly 40 companies that have so far received relief from the online gaming company. The fund has raised over $ 9 million from approximately 78,000 supporters of Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy officially launched it on December 17.

“Dave, you’re a hand of God,” Rich Lutz co-owner told Portnoy today (Tuesday) in a FaceTime call. “It’s very, very special to see your face in my kitchen right now.”

Portnoy appeared last week on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News to talk about The Barstool Fund, as Lutz says he found out about the program. Staff “got involved” in making a video telling the bar’s story, Barstool said in an email.

Since opening in March 2001, Freddie’s continues to be the only gay bar in northern Virginia, co-owner Freddie Lutz told the Barstool Fund. in its funding pitch. The community gathering place is known as a safe space for gay military personnel and also attracts families for Sunday brunch after church.

“I don’t know of any bar that is more diverse and welcoming than Freddie’s,” he said.

The brothers keep the restaurant open every holiday to make sure everyone has a “family meal” and hosts a toy every year.

So far, the brothers have managed to keep the lights on and its 25 employees on payroll. At one point, Amazon bought 1,753 meals from the restaurant, which were donated to the Virginia Hospital Center. Instead of trying to complete the entire order himself, Freddie spread it to a dozen nearby restaurants – an act that “inspired life, energy and activity in the independent restaurants that make up the core of 23rd Street.”

However, Freddie’s was recently on the verge of closure.

“Like many others, Freddie’s is struggling and is about to close,” Freddie told Barstool.

During his call with Rich, Portnoy praised the story of the bar and restaurant.

“It was crazy,” he said. “I saw the video and knew instantly that we wanted to help.”

Rich could not thank the founder of Barstool Sports and the media personality enough.

“With all the terrible things going on in the world right now, having a breath of fresh air like you is absolutely wonderful,” he said. “I just hope that when everything opens up, you’ll come to us.”

Barstool Sports did not disclose the amount of money Freddie would receive, and Lutzele was not immediately available for comment.

Barstool Sports writer and presenter Pat McAuliffe praised Portnoy’s choice in a blog post about Freddie.

“I could go on about how important bars like Freddie are to the LGBTQ community, but I won’t,” he said. “Instead, I will give you THIS LINK to donate to help more companies like Freddie’s across the country.”

Barstool Fund started with $ 500,000 from the media company’s funds and since then has raised almost 20 times that amount through donations and sales of goods.

Companies qualify if owners continue to pay their staff, despite efforts to stay open. Portnoy promised a recurring exemption for selected businesses, so that rather than delaying an inevitable closure, businesses have a chance to survive the post-pandemic.

“We will do it through this life,” Portnoy said on Carlson’s show.

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