Dolphin Tavern gets a (slight) makeover
Credit: Jordan Strauss
The Dolphin Tavern is back in business, slightly scrubbed with a shiny new sign. The narrow dive bar on Broad and Tasker reopened Wednesday under new management, with Dave P from Making Time, Sean Agnew from R5 Productions, Psydde Delicious from Delicious Boutique, and Avram Hornik and Mark Fichera from Four Corners Management now at the helm.
Four Corners is responsible for plenty of Philly nightlife already. The group runs all three Drinkers locations, Old City favorite Lucy’s Hat Shop, the revamped Ortlieb’s, summer staple Morgan’s Pier and music venue Union Transfer.
One opening-night patron, who had heard of the old Dolphin’s reputation but had never been inside, remarked that it was “trashy, but not as trashy as I was hoping,” adding, with a hint of disappointment, that it was cleaner than he expected — though others might take that as a good thing. The consensus among a few drinkers was that if the new owners were going for the hipster crowd, they definitely hit their mark, with black-frame glasses, ski hats and tattoos as far as the eye could see, and $2.50 PBRs flowing. And, of course — in traditional Dolphin fashion — scantily clad dancers gyrating on the bar.
Local and touring DJs will be providing the beats. Most nights are free, but there’s a cover charge on weekends. On crowded nights, squeeze your way past the long bar to get to the dance floor in the back.
