The Corner Bar Everyone’s Talking About: Inside Eebee’s in DC

To view the article by Teri Hornstein on WUSA9, click HERE.

What started as an all-in hard gamble for its owner, Eebee's Corner Bar turned into an overnight success in Shaw.

WASHINGTON — Would you wait hours for a seat at a local bar? Most people wouldn’t but at one spot in Shaw, the line starts before the doors even open.

It’s called Eebee’s Corner Bar and it's become an overnight success. 

Owner and native Washingtonian Emily Brown poured her heart, soul and life savings into this space and now the entire neighborhood is pouring in.

We stopped by Eebee's on a Friday and right at 5 p.m., Emily opened the doors. 

The guests started lining up around 30 minutes earlier, but by 5:05 p.m., every seat is gone.

Eebee’s Corner Bar opened in November and quickly became one of D.C.'s most-talked-about spots.

"I cannot believe that people plan their day around coming here. People leave work early. I can't believe people are willing to wait in line," Brown said.

The regulars say the reason they keep coming back is all about good drinks, good food and good vibes.

"This used to be like an Italian restaurant when we first moved here, and it was way out of our price range, so we never went, and then it closed down and so when they put up the sign for Eebee's, I told my wife I was like, 'We have to go here, we have to be regulars.' We ended up going twice the first weekend. Emily just said hi to us both times and that was it ... It feels like home," said regular and Shaw resident Michael Dettman. 

Brown says when people walk in, she wants them to feel that too, like they are right at home. 

"I know right now with the hype I could put time limits on the stools and I would make more money. That is not what this place was ever designed to be. I want you to love this place in 3 years, and for that, you need to feel a way when you're here. You need to have a memory," she said. 

The memories are everywhere. There are family photos the walls and every detail is personal.

"I mean, I've worked hard my whole life. I've never worked harder on anything than this," she said. 

Getting here took years.

"It took me 7 years to open this place from knowing I wanted to do it, admitting it to myself, and then trying to get the money," she said. 

It wasn't easy. 

"I ended up having to drain every dollar of my IRA, every dollar of an already underfunded 401k, every cent I've ever had on top of owing a ton of money. So yeah, I was terrified. My hair was falling out, honestly," she said. 

But her hard work paid off. 

Her signature burger is built from scratch and it required a lot of research.

"So I spent over a year, you know, I would go to Wagshal's and get different blends. It's simple. It's dry aged, high-end blend, so much pepper that if you saw it going on, you wouldn't believe it.," she said. 

From a single burger to an entire corner bar built on little details and a lot of determination.  

"I'm really proud. I'm proud of myself that I never gave up," she said. 

Her family has been supporting her every step of the way. 

"My mom is so proud of me and that is the absolute hands down best thing that's happened in this whole process," she said. 

 If you would like to check out Eebee's and are worried about the lines, Emily says don't be. 

You can put your name down, give the hostess your number, and come back when you're called.

More details about Eebee's can be found here.