Bar brings in 70 tons of sand for beach feel

The beach bar has 70 tons of sand hauled in from the Eastern Shore. (WTOP/Andrew Mollenbeck)
The New York Avenue Beach Bar brings the vacation vibe to the heart of the city. (WTOP/Andrew Mollenbeck)
The New York Avenue Beach Bar even has a jet ski. (WTOP/Andrew Mollenbeck)
The beach bar opened last Friday in the space that used to be a parking lot for the Warehouse Theatre. (WTOP/Andrew Mollenbeck)
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Andrew Mollenbeck, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – The Eastern Shore has arrived in D.C.

Sort of.

The New York Avenue Beach Bar has brought more than the coastal vibe to the heart of downtown. Owners hauled in 70 tons of sand from the Eastern Shore to give it the right feel — between the toes.

“When you walk through this gate, we want you to feel like you’re at the beach in the middle of the city,” says Karl Graham, one of the owners.

The location, between 6th and 7th streets in Northwest, is designed to be an escape from real life just feet away.

“That’s the vibe: Just laid back, rum punch, shades on, flip flops, tank tops,” Graham says.

The beach bar opened May 25, in the space that used to be a parking lot for the Warehouse Theatre.

A food truck serves shrimp and barbecue chicken. Beach balls bounce around the sand. A frozen drink machine evokes the tastes of an island vacation.

“You’re not going to get any closer to the beach in D.C.,” Graham says.

Starting next week, the beach bar will start showing movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

One caveat: it closes during storms because the whole place is open air.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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