Freddie’s Beach Bar is supported by Barstool Sports COVID-19 Relief Fund

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Barstool Sports’ COVID-19 emergency fund helps keep Crystal City’s old hangout, Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, afloat.

The LGBTQ-friendly bar at 555 23rd Street S., known for its Sunday brunches and drag queen shows, is one of nearly 40 businesses to get relief from the funny online media company so far. The fund has raised more than $ 9 million from approximately 78,000 supporters since Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy officially launched on December 17.

“Dave, you’re a godsend,” co-owner Rich Lutz told Portnoy in a FaceTime call today (Tuesday). “This is really special to see your face in my kitchen now.”

Portnoy appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show last week to talk about The Barstool Fund, which is how Lutz says he heard about the program. The staff “scrambled” to put together a video telling the bar’s story, he told Barstool in an email.

Since it opened in March 2001, Freddie’s is still the only gay bar in Northern Virginia, co-owner Freddie Lutz told the Barstool Fund in its funding pitch. The community gathering spot 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 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 they organize an annual toy ride.

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

Still, Freddie’s was about to close recently.

“Like so many others, Freddie is struggling and about to quit,” Freddie told Barstool.

While talking to Rich, Portnoy praised the story of the bar and restaurant.

“It was a no-brainer,” he said. “We saw the video and we immediately knew we wanted to help.”

Rich couldn’t thank the founder of Barstool Sports and the media personality enough.

“With all the terrible things happening in the world right now, it’s just great to have a breath of fresh air like you,” he said. “I just hope that when everything opens up, you come and visit us.”

Barstool Sports did not disclose how much money Freddie would receive, and the Lutzen were not immediately available to comment.

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

“I could go on and on about how important bars like Freddie’s are to the LGBTQ community, but I won’t,” he said. “Instead, I’m giving you THIS LINK to donate to help more companies like Freddie around 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 continue to pay their staff despite struggling to stay open. Portnoy promised return help for the companies selected so that the companies have a chance to survive the pandemic rather than delay an inevitable shutdown.

“We’ll do it for the life of this thing,” Portnoy said on Carlson’s show.

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