A politically themed bar in Washington, D.C., is facing backlash just days after opening its doors, specifically centered on its logo: a Democratic donkey and a Republican elephant.
Political Pattie’s, a new three-story bar on U Street in Northwest DC, a predominantly liberal city, quickly began to generate controversy after many locals were offended by the Republican elephant on the bar’s exterior logo. Fox News reported.
Shortly afterwards, a wave of retaliation broke out on social media. Some called the bar issue “dangerous,” while others called it “inappropriate.”
But owners Andrew Benbow, 41, and Sydney Bradford, 40, opened the bar in hopes of creating a bipartisan space for political discourse.
Political Pattie’s, a new bar in Northwest DC, received criticism just days after opening its doors for the first time, specifically because of its logo.
Owners Andrew Benbow, 41, and Sydney Bradford, 40, opened the bar hoping to create a bipartisan space for political discourse.
“Since DC is such a political city, I thought it made sense to set up a political bar… we didn’t know that wasn’t the case,” Benbow told Fox.
By voting for different parties, they wanted their establishment to be a safe space for conversations where everyone felt included.
“It represented our partnership and what we were trying to do with the space,” Bradford said. The Washington Post.
Benbow, a moderate Republican, and Bradford, a Democrat, saw their own relationship as living proof that people can still connect no matter what side of the aisle they stand on.
“If we can have different political opinions and still fall in love, surely two people with two completely different worldviews can get together and have a conversation and get to know each other,” Benbow told Fox.
The couple vote for different political parties, but feel their relationship is living proof that people can connect despite political differences.
Political elements are woven throughout the space, including a second-floor DJ booth resembling the presidential lectern.
Their motto? “Shedding light on politics.”
“We’re trying to get people together and get to know each other without judgment,” Bradford said. Washingtonian.
But these are deeply partisan times, especially in the months leading up to Election Day. And the current divide was even more pronounced through objections to the ban, both from D.C. residents and online users.
The allegations initially took the couple by surprise.
“People are taking sides and entrenching themselves on both sides,” Benbow told The Washington Post.
“And they don’t care about the other person’s values. They don’t care about getting to know them. All they care about is, ‘This is what I believe. And I don’t want anything to do with you if I think you believe anything different.'”
Framed portraits of presidents hang throughout the three-story bar.
After social media users asked the couple to “read the room,” they had an idea: set up a library with different types of political books that customers can borrow, keep and contribute to.
But the couple has tried to keep their heads high, making fun of the situation and keeping their fingers crossed that “any publicity is good publicity,” the Post added.
Online banter gave the pair inspiration for their staff uniform: khaki pants and a blue T-shirt accompanied by a red tie, all meant to recall Hill’s standard “uniform.”
Social media users telling the couple to “read the room” gave rise to another idea: books.
Bradford and Benbow have installed a library of various types of political books in the bar, which customers can borrow or keep for their own use. Guests are also encouraged to bring their own favorite book to add to the collection, the Washington Post added.
While politics may define the very essence of the bar, Benbow said it does not define him.
“I don’t walk around with an elephant on my forehead,” he said.
The couple has extensive experience in politics and law, which served as the basis for the project.
They met at Hampton University as political science students. Bradford is now a lawyer who has worked in Congress, and Benbow is a retired Army Reserve officer and attorney with experience working with multiple federal agencies, Washingtonian reported.
The bar aims to serve as a safe space where different opinions are accepted and not judged, despite DC being a predominantly liberal state.
The politically themed bar also has quotes on the walls that can resonate with either party.
After years of experience in their own jobs in public service, they hoped to integrate what they had learned about engagement across ideological divides and bring it into their own space to share with others.
The decision to open the bar was an easy one. The couple usually spends weekends together around the city while enjoying live music and sipping cocktails.
The only thing missing in their town was a bar with good prices, an energetic happy hour atmosphere, and polite discussions.
But the clamor for the logo was taken into consideration when they realized how powerful certain images could really be.
Bradford and Benbow decided to change the logo and remove both political animals to avoid further controversy. They also didn’t want to feel like they were harming their community.
Benbow (far right) considers himself a “moderate Republican,” while Bradford (not pictured) considers himself a Democrat.
The couple ended up changing the bar’s logo in response to the protest, but they plan to keep the bar politically themed throughout, in the hopes that people will give the place a chance.
“For some people it may just seem like a Republican elephant, but for others, it may be a visceral reaction that makes them feel unsafe,” Bradford told Fox.
“What we want to do is create a safe space where people can come in and have a political discourse or whatever kind of conversation they want,” he added.
“But it’s important for people to know that we don’t support debate over anyone’s existence or discrimination of any kind; that won’t be tolerated here at Pattie’s.”
The couple believes the situation has highlighted that this is exactly what Washington needs: a place where all opinions are welcome.
But despite the logo change, the name of the bar will remain the same.
The bar also plans to maintain the “political vibe” of the space, offering cocktails with names like the “Filibuster Fizz” and the “Gerrymander Martini.”
The walls remain covered with political quotes and framed portraits of numerous presidents, including Kennedy, Obama, Bush (the son) and Lincoln, The Washington Post added.
There’s even a DJ booth on the second floor that resembles the presidential lectern.
“Political Pattie’s aims to be a fun, inclusive space that pokes fun at politics, not the pain that politics often causes,” the couple told Washingtonian.
‘Pattie’s will continue to strive to improve and we ask you to do the same.’
Ultimately, the couple hopes people will give their bar a chance, despite the initial backlash.
And with Election Day fast approaching, maybe we all need a drink.
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