Bark Social is the first “dog bar” in the Mid-Atlantic region. It has a 25,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor craft beer, wine, and coffee bar and a professionally monitored (Bark Rangers) off-leash dog park.

Bark Social is the culmination of more than two years of research and refinement from founders Luke Silverman and Jeff Kurtzman. Silverman, an entrepreneur and former reality TV producer with credits including American Idol and The Bachelor, and Kurtzman, a seasoned entrepreneur whose past experience includes co-founder of Better World Books and CEO of Aid Through Trade, both socially responsible ventures.

More than a dog park, the year-round venue offers beer, wine, and coffee, small bites, a climate-controlled “clubhouse” with TVs and Wi-Fi, in addition to a “dog treat bar” (pupsicles and puppy ice cream), dog boutique, and dog wash stations.

Bark Social has partnered with a local coffee roaster, Ceremony Coffee for the morning program, and will complement this with a rotation of local and national craft brews and wines for a “beer garden” like atmosphere in the afternoons and evenings. The Pike & Rose location will offer an array of events such as Doga (dog yoga), daily Yappy Hours, a Halloween dog costume contest, pictures with Santa, singles nights, and even dog birthday parties.

Giving back to the local community and dog non-profits is a critical part of Bark Social’s mission. To honor its launch, Bark Social has launched a t-shirt fundraiser to support five local dog nonprofit organizations; Montgomery County Humane Society, Humane Rescue Alliance, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, MCPAW, and one national organization, Tails of Valor Paws of Honor, a Veteran organization providing social interaction and human/canine bonding resulting in trained services dogs able to assist with the post-combat physical and psychological issues affecting Veterans and their families. Bark Social will donate $5 from each t-shirt sold to its non-profit partners.