A bartender often determines whether the bar experience will be fun and enjoyable or forgettable. Some bartenders seem to forget why they are working — primarily, for money. The happier the patrons are, the better the tips, right? Patron Kerry describes our featured bartender Ricky Gooch as “full of positive energy and he seems to enjoy working at the bar” so we decided to learn more about him. Gooch was promoted to manager of the Fireplace earlier this summer.

A word about his bar, The Fireplace (2161 P St., N.W.): This west Dupont Circle building was created around 1837 as a corner grocery. It has housed many businesses including a straight gentlemen’s bar in the 1970s. In the 1980s it was the P Street Station bar and restaurant. This was in the era when a D.C. liquor licensee had to se

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