Barstool Sports’ COVID-19 emergency relief fund helps keep the Crystal City hangout, Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, going.
The LGBTQ-friendly bar at 235 Street S. 555, known for its Sunday brunch and drag queen shows, is so far one of nearly 40 businesses that have received relief from the jogging media company. The fund has raised more than $ 9 million from approximately 78,000 fans since Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy officially launched it on December 17th.
“Dave, you’re a religion,” co-owner Rich Lutz told Portnoy in a FaceTime call today (Tuesday). “It’s really special to see your face in my kitchen now.”
The call to Freddie’s Beach Bar. # BarstoolFund pic.twitter.com/kkEhwk45F8
– The Barstool Fund (@BarstoolFund) 29 December 2020
Portnoy appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show last week to talk about The Barstool Fund. Lutz says he learned from the program. Staff ‘scrambled’ to put together a video telling the bar’s story, he told Barstool via email.
Since opening in March 2001, Freddie has remained the only gay bar in Northern Virginia, co-owner Freddie Lutz told the Barstool Fund. in its field of funding. The community gathering is known as a safe space for gay military personnel and also attracts families to the church for a Sunday brunch.
“I do not know of a bar that is more diverse and welcoming than Freddie,” he said.
The next business that helps us is Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, VA. # BarstoolFund
Click to donate – https://t.co/MkTXHGIEGC pic.twitter.com/UruQz77Q5T
– The Barstool Fund (@BarstoolFund) 29 December 2020
The brothers keep the restaurant open every holiday to ensure that everyone has a family meal, and that they offer a toy ride annually.
So far, the brothers have managed to keep the lights on and its 25 employees on the payroll. At one point, Amazon bought 1,753 meals in the restaurant, which was donated to the Virginia Hospital Center. Instead of trying to fill the entire order himself, Freddie distributes it to a dozen nearby restaurants – an act that ‘breathes life, energy and activity into the independent restaurants that make up the core of 23rd Street’.
Yet Freddie’s was recently on the verge of closing.
“Like so many others, Freddie’s is struggling and is about to quit,” Freddie told Barstool.
During his call with Rich, Portnoy praised the bar and restaurant’s story.
“It doesn’t have to matter,” he said. “We saw the video and immediately knew we wanted to help.”
Rich could not thank Barstool Sports founder and media personality enough.
“With all the terrible things going on in the world right now, it’s just absolutely amazing to have a fresh air like you,” he said. “I just hope that if you open everything, you will come and visit us.”
Barstool Sports did not disclose the amount Freddie would receive, and the Lutzes were not immediately available for comment.
Writer and Barstool Sports presenter Pat McAuliffe praised Portnoy’s choice in a blog post about Freddie’s.
“I can go on and on about how important bars like Freddie’s are to the LGBTQ community, but I will not,” he said. “Instead, I’ll give you THIS LINK to donate to help more businesses like Freddie’s across the country.”
The Barstool Fund started with $ 500,000 of the media company’s funds and has since raised nearly 20 times that amount through donations and merchandise sales.
Businesses qualify if owners still pay their staff, even though they struggle to stay open. Portnoy has promised repeated relief to the businesses selected so that the businesses, rather than delaying an inevitable closure, have the chance to survive the post-pandemic.
“We’ll do it through the life of this thing,” Portnoy said on Carlson’s show.