The Washington, D.C., sports bar that was designed to encourage bipartisan political discussions has been silenced by the community for good.
Political Pattie’s, which opened in September on 9th and U streets in Northwest Washington, had its final last call Wednesday. Previously, the location was a gay bar known as the Dirty Goose in an area dominated by similar bars.
Owner Andrew Benbow attempted to create the bar for political debate. Co-owner Sydney Bradford shared opposing political views with him, and they tried to duplicate their relationship in a bar setting.
“It’s been a tough go,” Benbow said. “We realize that the concept — and not just our bar concept but the concept of bipartisanship, the concept of reaching across to someone you may disagree with — we’re not quite ready to do it. Not here in D.C., not across the country.”
