After a weather delay, a popular Del Ray pop-up bar’s next rendition is opening at the end of this month.
Owner Bill Blackburn told ALXnow that the Del Ray Dive at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue has everything a good dive bar needs, from fake wooden paneling to Alexandria memorabilia, and even a White Claw claw machine.
“Back during simpler times, there was a dive bar with fond memories where you’d go with your friends,” Blackburn said. “Back when we were young and had fun and hangovers didn’t matter.”
Blackburn, his business partner “Mango” Mike Anderson and their Homegrown Restaurant Group staff are working to open during the weekend of Saturday, March 28. The new concept has been in the works for more than two months after the bar wound down its annual Joy On The Avenue Christmas-themed pop-up.
On Monday (March 16), Blackburn reached out on Instagram to ask the community for vintage items to outfit the new bar. Some of the items he already has include more than 200 old license plates, old T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School) memorabilia, and vintage photos of Alexandrians drinking.
“If there’s anything that you were saving for your man cave that you never built, we’ll take it on loan,” he said. “Anything that’s cool and tells a local story.”
Customers can also expect beer pong and flip cup tournaments with T-shirt prizes in the days ahead, Blackburn said.
While the menu is still under development, Blackburn said that the dive bar concept will serve fewer craft cocktails than the pop-up’s previous concepts. He said that one drink he’s looking forward to making is a Flaming Dr. Pepper, which is a shot of amaretto set on fire and served in an eight-ounce beer.
“We’re gonna do our best to keep this as dive-bar-pricey as possible,” Blackburn said. “Granted, we can’t go back to penny pitchers and dollar beer nights, but we’re not gonna be serving $27 hamburgers and $19 smoked Manhattans.”
Blackburn continued, “Things are crazy in our world, and people want something simpler. They want comfort, and we’re trying to create that. It means fries and chicken tenders, wings, burgers, sliders, nachos — comfort food. All the foods can be served in the basket.”
This is the 20th seasonal pop-up concept for Blackburn and Anderson since 2021, when they closed and replaced their sushi bar concept. Last year, Blackburn and Anderson had their biggest hit at the pop-up with a Taylor Swift-themed concept. Lines for the bar went around the block on numerous occasions.
Blackburn said that it’s hard to keep a single concept going in the 1,800-square-foot space.
“It’s kind of small, so it’s tough to make this into a whole restaurant of its own,” he said.
The Del Ray Dive pop-up will stay open until August and will shut down in September to open as the Halloween-themed Nightmare on the Avenue bar in October. That concept will then close after Halloween and reopen with the holiday theme before Christmas, Blackburn said.
