For many locals, Thanksgiving morning means heading to Hank Dietle’s Tavern to toss footballs in the parking lot while enjoying a cold beer. However, following a devastating fire in 2018, the beloved tavern was closed for two years. But the neighbors came anyway; they just had to bring their own beer.

As the oldest bar in Montgomery County, Dietle’s proudly holds the No. 001 liquor license and boasts more than a century of history. This charming, white-porched home sits just off Route 355, nestled between a coffee shop and townhouses. Originally a general store in the early 1900s, the tavern has weathered the years, witnessed the neighborhood’s constant changes, and underwent a major renovation after the fire.

The repairs required after smoking materials ignited the beloved tavern proved costly for the new owners, Tommy Bowes, Sarah Bonner and Alan Kresse. Fortunately, a GoFundMe campaign raised over $19,000 to assist with cleanup, provide staff stipends and replace lost equipment.

“The community around us sort of acts as though we are their family, like their house, their clubhouse,” Bonner said. As a member of the Crayfish Sisters trio, Bonner recognized the tavern’s charm and felt it was essential to save it. “I hear people all the time say things like ‘I don’t even know what we would do if something happened to Dietle’s again,’” she said. 

Dietle’s looks quite different now. Once voted as one of the best dive bars in the DMV, it now is decorated with string lights, multicolored furniture and pastel walls, giving it a lively atmosphere instead of a dark and dingy one. But they did keep the jukebox.

In the left corner of the tavern stands the most important addition, the stage. The tavern has undergone its biggest transformation into a music venue. It is now open seven days a week and features nearly 60 live music shows each month. “Before there was a pool table and wooden booths, now there’s a dance floor,” Bonner said.

Pub rock, bluegrass, country and everything in between can be heard at Dietle’s. One of their most popular events is “Beatles at Dietle’s,” which takes place on the third Friday of every month. Local artists and national touring acts have graced the stage of this unassuming music hideaway, including Billy Bremner of the Pretenders, Bob Margolin of Muddy Waters and Steve Forbert.

Lisa White, the promoter and talent booker, is the visionary behind it all. With over 20 years of experience at the 9:30 Club, she believes the key to booking talent lies in staying attuned to the community. “What am I seeing posters for? What am I seeing postings about? Who are people telling me about?” White said. But the shows are always different. “Some of them are all seated, and it’s a real listening room,” Bonner said. “And then other times we’ll have like a Zydeco band, and it’s just a crammed dance floor.” And conga lines are a common occurrence on the Dietle’s dance floor.

Renowned musicians are eager to return. “It’s special to be able see people that could play much bigger rooms, but they choose to play here because they like the vibe here,” White said. Jack Bond, an artist from Nashville, delivered a soulful rendition of “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash for a small crowd during happy hour. “I’m so grateful to have an hour and a half to do whatever I want and what I’m capable of,” Bond said. “I don’t have to play ‘Margaritaville.’” 

Gina Cocco, bass player, singer and general manager of the tavern, said that sometimes national touring acts turn into birthday parties with cake for everyone attending a show. “That’s the kind of thing that you can’t really do at a bigger place,” Cocco said. “With a small place like ours, that kind of has a really strong sense of community, you can do that.”

In such a lively venue, things can get chaotic. In early August, a tree crashed into the power line, cutting electricity throughout the venue for a few hours during a show. “Here, there are always things happening. It’s a very live organism,” Cocco said. But the show went on—just acoustically. When surprises arise, the tavern leans on its community for support. With musicians who have pitched in to repaint the back of the building and an attorney who plays drums at Dietle’s while also providing legal counsel, the tavern relies heavily on volunteers. In July, the Dietle’s team launched a new GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for building and parking lot repairs. So far, they have received more than $28,000 toward their $50,000 goal. “This is where you come in,” the site said. 

Dietle’s gives back to the community as much as it takes. Bonner shared that many women express how comfortable they feel at the bar. “I can park, I feel safe, I can walk in, and it doesn’t feel icky,” Bonner said, reflecting on their comments. Music students are also given a space to perform, including Bone Jones, an adult guitar group, the School of Rock, and Walt Whitman’s Jazz Ensemble. “I mean these are not big money makers, but they’re really great for community,” White said.

The bar has a capacity for just 70 people, yet its reach is far greater. Three years after the fire, the team at Hank Dietle’s looks forward to many more years of building community. “People don’t just come in and sit at their little table like a restaurant and not talk to anyone. Everybody mixes in here and talks,” Bonner said. “So, it’s like a big family, really.”

Reference List:

Jack Bond, JackBondMusic@Comcast.Net, in person 10/03/2024

Gina Cocco, gina@hankdietles.net, in person 10/03/2024

Lisa White, bookings@hankdietles.net, in person 10/03/2024

Sarah Bonner, sarah@hankdietles.net, in person 10/03/2024