End of an (extremely generous) era

In this huge societal sea of inflation we find ourselves, struggling to stay afloat, there has been a island of respite, an oasis of hospitality, throwing its doors open to all, offering inflation-proof deals so that all could maintain some semblance of a social life.

That island of hospitality is known formally as Red Brick Station but informally has been a Cheers of sorts to many over the 29 years it has existed. While many bars claim to be that bar where everyone knows your name, RBS is one of those that most closely resembles that philosophy, in my humble experience.

I say that RBS has been a sea of respite because while the prices of pretty much everything have skyrocketed in the past several years — to say nothing of the nearly 30 years that Red Brick has been around — the bar has been famous for its $1 beer Tuesdays.

Photo credit: Red Brick Station

Now here’s an important thing to know about Red Brick. It’s a true brew pub — one of the first in the state. Owner Bill Blocher was crafting his own beer and serving it in his pub before the term craft brewery was coined (or so it seems). So, in exchange for those one-dollar bills slid across the bar, customers received a pint of GOOD beer. I’m not talking Natty Bo here (no offense to Natty Bo drinkers, but it’s pretty bad beer).

Red Brick’s everyday beers — Daily Crisis, Something Red and Avenue Ale, for example — could be had for a buck each and seasonal specials were available for two bucks. Somewhere along the line, seasonal brews were upped to $3 but the line was held on the main character beers.

I first discovered Red Brick’s bargain beers around 1999. I had taken a huge pay cut to leave local government for a job in community journalism, and my colleague Christina Radice and I started going because that’s what a couple of broke reporters could afford. Those bar outings became a weekly tradition until Christina left the paper and I was forced to venture out on my own.

This past Monday, the restaurant posted an almost apologetic message on Facebook that invited customers to come in the next day for the final $1 beer Tuesday and announced that $2 beer Tuesdays would begin March 3.

My only shock about the price increase is that it didn’t happen at least 10 years ago. I worked in the restaurant business in the 1990s and 2000s. I saw beer prices go up many times over those years and then saw many more increases come over many years as a customer. Throughout all the industry and economic changes, Bill Blocher held the line, took the loss and continued in his role as the benevolent host.

And the bargains weren’t held to beverages only. A variety of food specials offer less expensive ways to dine out, including half-price burgers on Mondays and a fish and chips meal on Thursdays that includes fries or cole slaw and a beverage.

But perhaps the biggest draw of Red Brick is that it’s a warm, friendly place to go. There are longterm staff members who really do remember your name and what you drink. It’s a fun, friendly place where you can talk to the person on the bar stool next to you or across the bar. Regulars get to know each other, and customers and staff alike fret when they notice a regular hasn’t been in for a while. The restaurant sits on the corner of its block on The Avenue in White Marsh. There’s outdoor seating on a patio that opens to a shopping center-wide entertainment space where concerts are held in warmer months and an ice rink forms during the winter months.

It’s a festive place to see and be seen, as the saying goes; a place where everybody really does know your name — but only if you want them to.

And did I mention you can get good beer for $2 on Tuesdays??

See you there!