Alex Benbassat and Justin LeGore are bringing some dog-friendly fun to Alexandria in the form of Barkhaus, a combination bar and dog park that opens on Saturday.

Former roommates Benbassat and LeGore met while studying at Virginia Tech. After visiting Charlotte, North Carolina, where dog bars have become a popular restaurant concept, the duo decided to bring the idea to Northern Virginia. Barkhaus will be the first restaurant-bar-dog park of its kind in the region.

Benbassat and LeGore organized the Old Town Beer, Wine and Dog Festival in August 2019 to gauge interest for a dog bar from locals and attract vendors. The festival’s success was proof that Barkhaus could work, Benbassat said.

In February, after a five-month search, they found a site for Barkhaus at 529 E. Howell Ave., the former site of Flat Top Burger. However, they quickly discovered a significant barrier for the concept: Virginia law.

In Virginia, dogs are not allowed inside restaurants or bars for public health and safety concerns, so Benbassat and LeGore applied for a variance, an amendment to the law that would allow them to move forward with the project.

“We had to submit a 20-page letter explaining why that would be good for Alexandria, why it would be good for the area. It’s a new idea that could potentially be a huge thing for this community and even all of Virginia,” Benbassat said.

In order to get the variance approved, Benbassat and LeGore designed the site with separation between where food is prepared and delivered to customers and where dogs are allowed.

“We had to separate the space into two units so that we could actually cook on site while having dogs on the other side of the building,” Benbassat said.

The food menu, composed mostly of small bites, is prepared by The Laughing Pig, an organic caterer, and drinks will be provided by a number of local alcohol vendors. Pups will also have plenty of options. Barkhaus will sell dog ice cream and dog beer, and Woofbowl, a dog food truck, will provide dog treats, Benbassaat said.

At Barkhaus, customers pick up their food at a counter once it’s ready, at which point they can decide to eat in a designated no-dog zone or bring their food to a dining room where dogs are allowed on-leash.

There are also two off-leash dog parks on site. One is a larger, outdoor turf park with obstacle courses, custom dog bowls, heaters and tables where patrons can take their drinks. The other, smaller park is on the second floor of the restaurant.

The circumstances under which Barkhaus will be opening on Saturday are far from ideal. Although restaurants have been able to open up more during the pandemic, business is still far from booming. But Benbassat said he believes the design of Barkhaus is oddly a perfect fit for COVID-19-era concerns.

“Since we had to go through so many different obstacles for having dogs inside, which is unheard of in Virginia, we kind of already had these safety precautions in place,” Benbassat said.

There is a window at the service counter, and the regulations regarding the number of dogs allowed on site – one dog per 70 square feet, or 40 to 50 dogs total – could naturally enforce occupancy guidelines. Barkhaus will also comply with the guidelines set by ALX Promise, a city-organized program through which businesses commit to high safety standards for employees and customers.

Dog owners who want to bring their dogs to Barkhaus are required to become members. The membership program, which was required by the variance, was designed to establish a record of the dogs on site and ensure they have had four major vaccinations: Bordetella, canine distemper, rabies and parvo.

Patrons with dogs also have to sign a liability waiver accepting full responsibility for their dog. Customers who want to eat or drink without a dog do not need to sign up for a membership or sign the waiver.

Memberships will be available for $30 a month or $250 a year. Daily passes will also be available for $5. In addition to having access to a supervised dog park, members will get discounts and perks, including special drink offers and vouchers for Uber Pet.

With almost 200 members already signed up, Barkhaus is hitting a sweet spot for dog owners looking to get out from lockdown and enjoy a beer with their furry friend.

To sign up for a membership or donate to Barkhaus’ startup costs, see www.brewskisbarkhaus.com.