Bark Social, a fast casual social club for dogs and dog lovers, has acquired Barkhaus in Alexandria, Virginia, and will transform the 6,000-square-foot facility into Bark Social’s fourth location. The park will continue to serve dogs and dog lovers, with an off-leash dog park, a bar and a full kitchen.
“We’re thrilled to bring Bark Social to Alexandria and build upon the community that Barkhaus has built there,” Luke Silverman, co-founder and CEO of Bark Social, said in a company press release. “As more dog lovers look for fun and safe places to bring their dogs, we are eager to meet the demand with our new locations.”
Barkhaus, Alexandria’s first dog bar, was founded in the fall of 2020 by Alex Benbassat and Justin LeGores, who reached out to Bark Social about an acquisition after three years of cultivating many two and four-legged regulars in the Del Ray community. Benbassat will stay on as an operating partner at Bark Social and continue to lead the Alexandria team.
“We’ve always been close to the Bark Social team, and I know that there is nobody better to carry on — and build upon — our dream for this location than them,” Benbassat said in the release. “This location will continue to be the best place in Alexandria for dogs and dog lovers, with some exciting new features coming soon.”
Bark Social will continue to expand its footprint in the Mid-Atlantic region and on the West Coast. The brand has Columbia, Maryland, and two Los Angeles locations under development and plans for additional locations across the U.S.
