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Freddie’s Beach Bar is bringing the show to the beach

Owner Freddie Lutz says glitter and glitz of original restaurant will be in Rehoboth location
March 3, 2021

Story Location:
Freddie’s Beach Bar
3 South First Street
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

It’s taken two decades, but Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant owner Freddie Lutz is bringing his beach-themed restaurant to the beach.

“I was sitting in Freddie’s and thinking, what is this place missing? The sand and ocean,” said Lutz, during an interview March 2. “It only took 20 years to come to that realization.”

Lutz opened the original Freddie’s in Arlington in 2001. He said that restaurant celebrated its 20-year anniversary the same day he got the keys for the Rehoboth location – March 1.

“They’ll both have the same anniversary,” he said.

Freddie’s will be located on South First Street in the space that was the longtime home of The Pond, which closed recently to move to a location on Route 1. Lutz said he’s been looking to come to Rehoboth for a long time, and when the space opened up he took advantage. With a big square bar in the middle and space for entertainment, he said the former Pond layout is similar to the original Freddie’s.

The original Freddie’s is known for its pink-and-purple paint and wall decorations. Lutz said the new location will have much the same vibe – copious amounts of purple and pink paint in various shades, lots of stuff on the walls and a small decorative shelf going around the top of the wall that will be full of dolls, primarily Barbies.

“I’ve been collecting dolls since I was a little girl,” said Lutz. “At this point, people just give them to me. I think I have almost enough to do this whole restaurant in storage.”

Similar to the color and decorative schemes, Lutz said there will be karaoke and drag queens everywhere.

“Lots of glitter and glitz,” said Lutz. “There’s going to be fun. Lots of fun. There’s always something going on at Freddie’s Beach Bar.”

The website for Freddie’s Virginia restaurant describes itself as Northern Virginia's only LGBTQ+, straight-friendly restaurant and bar. Lutz said that will also be the case in Rehoboth.

“We encourage everybody to come to Freddie’s,” said Lutz.

Lutz has been coming to Rehoboth Beach for decades. He said the original Freddie’s was actually inspired by the outdoor patio area of a trailer he had in Sea Air Village more than two decades ago.

“It’s full circle coming back to Rehoboth,” said Lutz.

The goal is to have Freddie’s open by Memorial Day, said Lutz. Specific hours of operation aren’t set, but he plans to have the restaurant open for lunch and dinner every day.

For more information on Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant, 3 S. First St., Rehoboth Beach, go to freddiesbeachbar.com. At the time of this interview, a phone number had not yet been given.

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