It's official: Uniontown Bar and Grill is on and poppin'

February 4, 2011 The Advoc8te

Yesterday's Grand Opening of Uniontown Bar and Grill in Historic Anacostia was the thing that small business dreams are made of. Hosted by the Economic Development Committee of the River East Emerging Leaders (r.e.e.l) Uniontown was so packed with customers that they quickly ran out of chairs (and seafood gumbo). White, black, young, mature, gay and straight came out to Historic Anacostia to check out the latest addition to the sit down dining scene in Ward 8. With only four sit-down restaurants in a ward with 70,000 residents -- the options are still pretty limited but it's good to know that with the addition of Uniontown Bar and Grill, Ward 8 now is at the fledgling stages of having a viable and mature nightlife.

The type of buzz and excitement that surrounding the Grand Opening (the soft opening was Jan 31st) rivaled, if not surpassed, the buzz surrounding Big Chair Coffee's Grand Opening last year.

It remains to be seen if Uniontown will be a long lasting success. Until then, several things are for sure:

Ward 8 loves their sit down restaurants.
Ward 8 loves socializing.
Ward 8 really, really, loves their Patron margaritas.

The Advoc8te rolled through around 6pm with two of my River West pals, one who had never been to Anacostia before, and we had a great time. Even if the drink service was a little slow due to the massive crush of eager customers more excited to their Happy Hour on. A DJ kept the old school and new school beats pumping. The vibe was electric yet chill. Everyone had a great time hanging out, connecting with old friends and making new ones. Lot's of the downtown-after-work crowd in attendance.

Local movers and shakers enjoying the Uniontown atmosphere: ANC Commissioners CharlesWilson, Greta Fuller, and William Ellis. River East real estate superstar, Darrin Davis and Anthony Anderson, creator/writer/actor of Anacostia: The Series. Also in attendance was former Ward 8 Councilmember Sandy Allen, Jackie Ward of Councilmember Barry's office, Life in the Village blogger, Veronica Davis, and Dr. Courtney Davis, author of the upcoming "A is for Anacostia" children's book.

It's official. Ward 8 is getting its sexy back.