Restaurants across Washington offer specials as government shutdown continues

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Even with the government closed, bars and restaurants remain open across Washington, and understanding how frustrating the shutdown is, they have a few special deals to make things a little bit easier.

Steps away from the Capitol, Union Pub is a typical Friday destination for federal workers.

This happy hour, however, things are different.

“We’re just trying to help them out and save a couple bucks,” said Brick Embree, a bartender at Union Pub.

He said about 80% of the restaurant’s customer base is government workers.

Days into a government shutdown shuttering federal agencies, Embree is pouring up a different sort of relief: support, and a way to thank the thousands of furloughed workers now in limbo without a paycheck. Throughout the shutdown, Union Pub is offering a “shutdown special” to visitors, including discounted drinks and food for those waiting for Washington to reopen.

“We’re doing hot dogs for seven bucks, beers for $3. We just thought, like, everybody’s sad and everybody needs a drink,” he said.

Union Pub isn’t alone. Across the city, “shutdown specials” are making headlines. They’re tongue-in-cheek ways to acknowledge the tension, while also keeping business booming.

Across town, Barrel House Cafe and Bar has two options. All it takes is a government ID and your beverage of choice.

“We understand the seriousness of it, but we also want to make people feel a little light, too, so they can come in and get a chuckle,” said Brandon Bayton, Barrel House’s strategic director.

He said Barrel House is offering free brewed coffee on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays in addition to a series of special, low-price cocktail menus.

Drinks include the aptly named “Budget Blackout-tini,” a fun take on a cocktail classic. But it’s what’s behind the glass that counts, the coming together of a city used to ebbs and flows finding a way through the uncertainty together.

“We’re here for you,” Bayton said. “We many not be able to donate billions of dollars in cash, but we can at least try to make it a little bit easier for you to make it through the day to day.”

Shutdown specials will last for as long as the government is closed. With no end in sight, these bars will keep the good times flowing - even as government funding runs dry.