The Get Down – Baltimore Magazine

Sir Duke Bar & Liquor Store Takes Over Former Get Down Space in Fells Point

Lauren Cohen — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 10:39:00 +0000

The building that connects four rowhomes on the corner of Aliceanna and South Bond streets in Fells Point has housed a few different bar concepts over the years, and its latest will harken back to the mid-20th century taverns that the property’s owner Bryan Burkert grew up seeing thrive in his hometown of Buffalo, New York.

“When the inspiration comes, it’s exciting to be able to switch things up and do something new,” says Burkert, who previously operated live music hangout Fletcher’s and EDM dance club The Get Down in the space, and rented it out to bacon-fueled dive Bad Decisions last year. “I wanted this new bar to seem like a place that could have existed pre-1980.”

Burkert’s newest concept, Sir Duke Bar & Liquor Store, will open to the public on July 12—paying homage to classic American dives with traditional pub fare, local artwork, and its own adjoining liquor store with an array of beer, wine, and sprits.

“I really wanted get back to my roots and the roots of the building, which was an era before everything became so crisp and clean,” Burkert says. “Especially after The Get Down, which was so tech-heavy with tons of LED lights, it’s nice to be able to strip it down to the most basic neighborhood tavern, like when I was growing up.”

After The Get Down closed in 2015, the space was renovated to include a kitchen, front doors that extend out to the street, and new windows that let in natural light on the first floor. Following the revamp, the building then briefly housed Bad Decisions, which closed in January due to financial conflicts.

The remodel will be on full display as the space transitions into Sir Duke—which is named after Stevie Wonder’s 1976 tribute to Duke Ellington—and will feature walls filled with paintings, street art, and photos by local artists including late photographer, and beloved Baltimore contributor, Sam Holden. Adds Burkert: “There’s literally something to look at everywhere you turn.”

The tavern vibe will also permeate into the menu, which was created under the helm of former Kali’s Court chef Rashad Edwards. Bar-goers can expect snacks like onion rings, soft pretzels with beer cheese, braised short rib street tacos, and boneless Buffalo wings. The menu also lists a number of flatbread pizzas, ranging from a classic pepperoni to a wild mushroom with truffle oil and roasted garlic.

Behind the bar, there will be 12 draft beer options, huckleberry lemonade and Moscow mules on tap, boozy milkshakes, and a number of signature cocktails including the “Punch Drunk” (rum, melon liqueur, lemonade, pineapple, and sparkling water) and the “Tequilin’ Me Softly,” made with silver tequila, lime, cranberry juice, and ginger beer.

As Fells Point continues to thrive with more waterfront attractions and destination dining, Burkert—who also owns stalwart record store The Sound Garden and artsy dance club The Rockwell in the neighborhood—is enthusiastic about opening a hangout that caters to locals.

“My hope is that everybody can find something different that they like about the place,” he says. “If we can achieve that, it will be a success.”

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Bad Decisions Moving to Former Get Down Space

Jess Mayhugh — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 14:04:00 +0000

Aptly named Fells Point corner bar Bad Decisions, which has been lauded as one of the finest watering holes in the country by Esquire magazine, is about the make a big move. This week, owner John Reusing signed a lease to move his establishment into the former Get Down and Fletcher’s space on the corner of Aliceanna and Bond streets.

The 6,000-square-foot space is quite an upgrade for the dive, whose plans include three distinct bar areas and a brand new kitchen. Reusing said he hopes the downstairs bar would cater to the more casual drinker, while the second floor will emulate the original Bad Decisions feel.

“We want to make the bottom floor accessible to everyone,” he says. “People can order stuff like draft beer, one-and-one mixed drinks, and house wine. More of an everyman bar. The second floor will have a craftier vibe, with our original cocktail book available.”

Reusing explained that the move was only a matter of time, since his current space is suffering from roof issues and water damage. He had been looking at a few properties when he came upon The Get Down nightclub, which officially closed last August.

“I’ve been putting out feelers for a while now,” he says. “I had to move out of this space, and it only made sense to go bigger. Though this is a lot bigger.”

The expanded space will allow Reusing and his team to offer more amenities, like running nightly specials, hosting private events, and featuring tap takeovers and beer dinners. When asked if he’d want to harken back to the days of Fletcher’s and feature live music, Reusing was on the fence.

“We’re licensed for it, but I don’t know,” he says. “I want to get into the space first and feel it out.”

Reusing is excited about the build-out of a brand new kitchen and installing a smoker, which will help him enhance his popular bacon happy hours and offer a menu of “dive bar snacks” to customers (BLTs will be a central focus). Though working with the city and receiving permits can slow down any timeline, Reusing is hopeful that the new space will be open August 19.

For now, Reusing is pre-selling deals to customers to help fundraise the space. Some options include a drink named after you on the new menu, a private cocktail class, and tickets to VIP bacon nights.

“It’s going to be the same theme and have a similar feel to Bad Decisions,” Reusing says. “Just better designed and with room to grow.”

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The Get Down to Close Later This Month

Lauren Cohen — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Located in a neighborhood best known for pubs rather than clubs, The Get Down has been a go-to hangout for local DJs, break-dancers, and electronic dance music (EDM) lovers since its debut in Fells Point five years ago—but this month will be its last.

In a post to the club’s Facebook page last week, owner Bryan Burkert announced that The Get Down would be closing its doors at the beginning of August.

“It’s been five years with the same concept and it’s just time for a change,” Burkert says.

Burkert, who also owns Fells Point’s record store, The Sound Garden, and artsy rock club, The Rockwell, says that his decision to close isn’t for financial reasons, and that owning the Bond Street building gives him the opportunity to launch new projects every few years. (The Get Down’s former inhabitant, live music venue Fletcher’s, was also his brainchild.)

“The club business is difficult anywhere, but in Baltimore it’s especially tough,” he says. “We’re really only making money 10 hours per week, so if I didn’t own the building, you would never see a project like [The Get Down] in a space like that.”

Part of what made The Get Down so unique was its elaborate LED light shows, created by digital designer Scott Chmielewski—whose work includes the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and Linkin Park and Maroon 5 concerts. Along with the flashy lighting, the club boasted tall ceilings, energetic house music, and plush lounge furniture.

“It was just a fun, edgy, spot where people came as they were and you didn’t have to get dressed to the nines,” says Heidi L. Klotzman, CEO and founder of HeidnSeek Entertainment, who promoted weekly events at the club. “There were really great break-dancers and the DJs were the cream of the crop. It had a great response, but sometimes a concept just travels its path and you have to go back to the drawing board.”

Looking back, Burkert notes The Get Down’s bi-annual break-dancing competition, “The Breakdown,” as one of his favorite memories. Hosted by local dancer David Flynn, the competition featured performers that hailed from as far as Montreal.

“Those were the best. We would have the dance contests during the day and then at night everyone would come and party,” Burkert says. “For me, those days and nights were something right out of Step Up.”

The Get Down’s final farewell will take place on Saturday, August 1, with a full lineup of the club’s resident DJs. Although details are still in the works, Burkert promises that the last few parties will be memorable.

“We’ve had such good customers and we owe it to them to make it a really insane last weekend,” he says. “I had a vision of what I wanted The Get Down to be, but I only put the lights and sounds in. Baltimore made it happen.”

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