Long-time local gay bar Freddie’s Beach Bar suffered damage to its front doors after an intentionally-set fire early Thursday morning.
Freddie’s was among three neighboring businesses on Crystal City’s 23rd Street S. restaurant row that were damaged. The others were another long-time watering hole, Crystal City Sports Pub, as previously reported, and Irish pub McNamara’s.
Freddie’s owner Freddie Lutz spoke about the incident and revealed McNamara’s as the third damaged business in an interview with the Washington Blade.
Freddie’s received threatening calls from an anonymous caller before and after the fire, according to Lutz. That follows bomb threats last year connected to a family story time event with a drag performer.
Lutz told the Blade an anti-LGBT motive for the arson is possible, though the other two set fires might make it difficult to prove a hate crime. (The Arlington GOP, for its part, speculated on social media that the Sports Pub being owned by Republicans might have something to do with the incident.)
The Arlington County Fire Department confirmed the addresses of the other two businesses damaged Friday afternoon after earlier only identifying the Sports Pub. It also released surveillance video (below) showing an unknown person apparently setting the fire in front of Freddie’s.
“The Office of the Fire Marshal is asking the community for help in identifying a person of interest,” ACFD said in an updated press release. “The preliminary investigation conducted by The Office of the Fire Marshal has determined the fire to be incendiary and is asking the community for assistance by checking their Ring cameras between the hours of 4-6 a.m. on Thurs., Jan. 9, 2025, to help identify a person of interest.”
“Contact Lieutenant Wandekha Kanthula at 571-357-0769 or [email protected] with information pertaining to fire,” the release continued.
