BEDROCK BILLIARDS
BEDROCK BILLIARDS
“Feels just like my grandmother’s basement in Brooklyn!”
Bedrock Billiards was my first step into the world of bars. I knew that Washington, DC, needed more pool tables, and the Adams Morgan neighborhood was an ideal location. My co-conspirator, Mark Handwerger, and I got to work creating a funky, cozy basement space featuring seven Brunswick Gold Crown pool tables. Shockingly, we opened the bar without alcohol! During our first year, we managed to survive by selling coffee, sandwiches, and snacks and providing a terrific atmosphere. Eventually, we obtained a liquor license and Bedrock was off to the races.
My mom, Margaret Dawson, worked the day shift and made the best sandwiches in town. My wife Meg and I lived on the 8th floor above Bedrock and I commuted to work by elevator. One afternoon, when one of our first customers walked through the door and screamed, “Oh my God! This is just like my grandmother’s basement in Brooklyn!” I knew we had a winner, and she had a very cool grandmother. During the buildout, I met two important people who helped create Bedrock’s secret sauce and who became dear friends. Travis Smith from Retrospective, an eclectic design store nearby in Adams Morgan, helped create what he called a “swanky club vibe.” Graphic designer Lloyd Greenberg, a friend and neighbor of my mother-in-law, created our logo and beautiful ads.
Travis kept me grounded and gave his honest opinion throughout, helping me avoid big design mistakes and teaching me the craft of display. He helped me find old 1940s and 50s lounge chairs, couches, funky lights, and much more. Lloyd, an extraordinary graphic designer, created the Bedrock Billiards logo and kept me laughing while I was digging a ditch for a bathroom drain one hot, grungy afternoon. Over 30 years later, Bedrock Billiards remains a popular neighborhood hangout.
