This month’s business highlight features Matt Murphy and Brittany Ryan of The Pub and the People at 1648 NorthCap NW. Pub was opened in 2015 by a group of long-time bartenders who loved the idea of a true neighborhood bar and restaurant. Since then they’ve become a favorite of both residents and their pups! Be sure to check out their daily happy hour Monday-Friday from 5-7pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 3-7pm!
Tell us a little about how Pub was founded.
We wanted to create a fun, open, and welcoming space where the relatively underserved neighborhoods of Bloomingdale and Eckington could socialize in an unpretentious environment. People can eat and drink excellent food and bev at approachable prices. So simple, right? Additionally, we wanted to create a work environment where the Pub staff could feel safe and respected. Years later, we’re happy to report that much of the staff refers to our team as “Pub Fam”-we count that as a huge success.
Tell us a little about yourself and your life.
The Pub is run by Brittany Ryan and Matt Murphy. We are literally a family business: Matt married Britt’s sister ten years ago. Matt attended undergrad in DC, and then moved back to DC after law school, where he practiced public interest environmental law and bartended on the weekends until the idea for the Pub was hatched. He lives in Northeast DC with his wife, one-year-old daughter, and a very lazy dog.
After completing undergrad with a marketing degree, Brittany decided to wait tables while contemplating her next move. Coincidentally, she landed at the same restaurant where Matt was bartending! Fueled by the fast-paced environment and fun atmosphere of the bar, she decided to make the hospitality business her ultimate career move. She joined Matt in forming plans for the Pub.
What’s unique about your business?
A lot of places market themselves as a neighborhood bar, but we really strive to make Pub a place where there’s something for everyone, be it a $7 beer+shot combo or a fine-dining-quality entrée. We also encourage neighborhood patrons to submit photos of their dogs for us to hang up in our bathrooms! So bring Fido next time you make a trip to the patio. Shoutout to NCMS for helping us fund our beautiful mural on top of the Pub – it’s very pup-centric. …oh, and obviously all that stuff we said earlier about Pub Fam. We truly want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome.
Left: Local muralists Nicole Bourgea (left) and “MasPaz”(right) created Pub’s Big Dog mural. | Right: Side Door, Pub’s new basement bar.
How can the community support you right now?
Just come in and have a bite and a drink with us! Honestly, over the Covid lockdowns, times were tough for restaurants, but the neighborhood was so loyal and supportive. For that, we are eternally grateful…thank you! To show our appreciation, when we brought back our weekday happy hour, we expanded it to include the weekend as well to make up for lost time. We are always looking for suggestions, so we welcome any feedback!
Also, if you haven’t checked out Side Door, our newly-opened speakeasy-style basement bar (also available to rent out for private parties) please come and check it out! It’s currently open on Friday and Saturday nights but we hope to expand those hours. Also, if you don’t already please follow us on IG @pubandthepeople and on Facebook. We are always brewing up fun ideas to keep people engaged with us.
Tell us what you love about the neighborhood you serve?
Bloomingdale, Eckington, Truxton Circle, and NoMa are such great neighborhoods full of interesting, down-to-earth, and honestly just super-nice people. Since we signed our lease and began construction in 2013, it’s been exciting for us to see the development of North Capitol Street. We look forward to many more years providing service on our corner, and growing with the community as well. North Cap on the map!
(images: The Pub and the People)
