Business Briefs

by Sarah Payne

TallBoy.” Neighborhood residents also come for the friendly vibe and to watch soccer and other sports on the TVs.

The walls at TallBoy are decorated with bright, colorful murals reflective of the city’s rich sports history. They give the place a friendly vibe. Outdoor seating options include a covered streatery. While the menu features a short list of mezcal and tequila cocktails, the staples are inexpensive domestic and imported beers in tallboy cans, plus a few beers and ciders on tap, which are all under $10. Beer shot combos round out the drink offerings. The food is classic bar fare, such as wings, both traditional and boneless, with a variety of sauces and seasonings, burgers, pork, beef, chicken, fish and mushroom tacos and appetizers. Chips and salsa are free. Happy Hour food and drink specials are available from 4-6 PM.

TallBoy is open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday, 4 p.m. to 3 a.m., Saturday, 12 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. Visit tallboybar. com for more information, including food delivery.

The Passenger A Bar that Rides

Old standbys are often best. Tom Brown opened The Passenger, 1539 Seventh St. NW, in 2009 with his younger brother, award-winning mixologist Derek Brown. Originally located in a historic hardware store located across from the DC Convention Center, the brothers set out to create an unpretentious space where guests could imbibe quality cocktails at a time when there was

TallBoy

The Bartenders’ Late Night Haunt

It’s midnight on a weekday. Storefronts along the 1200 block of Ninth Street NW are dark, save one. The lights are almost always on at that hour at TallBoy, 1239 Ninth St. NW.

“It’s funny, a lot of people think there’s no way people come in on Tuesday at 1 a.m.,” General Manager Elliot Howe remarked, laughing. “We get the biggest rush every weekday between 12 a.m. and 2 a.m.”

Tallboy is the creation of owners Geoff Dawson, Peter Bayne and Todd Galaida. Dawson and Bayne, both former bartenders, knew the challenges of finishing a late shift with no place to unwind over food and drink before heading home. Joined by Galaida, the three envisioned a bartender friendly, neighborhood hangout, named for the 16-ounce cans of beer that are the bar’s mainstay. TallBoy is now a late-night destination for many in the District’s hospitality industry.

“We’re serving that industry crowd here,” Howe said. “Let’s say you bartend across the street or downtown and you’re going home. There’s always going to be a beer for you at a dearth of stand-alone bars in the neighborhood, said Brown.

The Passenger is named for an Iggy Pop tune. At the old site, Brown pioneered the so-called “blue collar cocktail bar.” This no frills hang out serves “everyday luxuries,” with a particular nod to service industry workers.

“It can be different things to different people,” Brown observed. “Most of all, it’s just kind of a place for people to gather, meet each other and establish friendships.”

When the original location closed due to development in 2014, Derek Brown moved his bar-within-a-bar, The Columbia Room, to a since-closed space in Blagden Alley. The current Passenger opened in 2016, decorated with colorful murals by local artists.

Today, the Passenger serves local brews on tap and in cans, on a rotating menu. The establishment’s cocktails incorporate local liquors and ingredients. Guests can order Puerto Rican cuisine from Qui Qui, the restaurant on The Passenger’s second floor.

The restaurant’s atmosphere, Brown noted, changes from day to day. Live music from Puerto Rican bands alternates with guest appearances from live DJs spinning everything from punk to soul.

While The Passenger has been a neighborhood staple for more than a decade, Shaw’s rapid growth brings in both new customers and old regulars. All, Brown feels, are able to connect over great drinks.

The Passenger is open Monday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday, 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. Food is available from Qui Qui Thursday through Sunday. For more information on The Passenger, visit passengerdc.com.

Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u

Eat.Drink.Shaw.

Returns to the Howard Theater