“Step back; doors closing.” For Washington-area commuters, this familiar refrain likely evokes a visceral reaction, equal parts affection and exasperation. 

The DC Metro system, an integral part of life in the capital, delivers more than 600,000 people a day to their destinations—but not always in comfort or on time.

There’s one railcar, however, whose slogan promises “no delays, just vibes. At metrobar in Northeast DC, a decommissioned car fast-tracks tasty drinks and good cheer. 

Jesse Rauch, SPA/MPP ’08, co-owner and self-proclaimed train nerd, wanted to launch a bar that celebrates the city and builds community—and love it or loathe it, “there’s nothing that connects us more than Metro,” he says.

So how do you go about getting a railcar? Rauch and his two partners googled it, naturally, and discovered that Metro was disposing of some 5000-series cars, which first entered service in 2001.

They offered to buy a couple and began transforming one into a cool hangout, a process that confounded city permitters. “Because what is a train car? Is it a building? Is it a movable structure? This was something new,” Rauch says.

But in 2023, the doors opened to reveal a 22-foot-long bar and the original seats, dressed up in new upholstery and a booth configuration. The property also has a second bar—housed inside a shipping container that reuses sinks from the fabled Eighteenth Street Lounge—and ample outdoor space that can be enclosed and heated in the winter.

The drink menu features beer, wine, and spirits from DC-area makers, such as Republic Restoratives and Atlas Brew Works. “A big part of what we do is support local entities,” Rauch says. That includes collaborating with food trucks, artists, and musicians.

He encourages patrons, too, to bring their parties. And they have: birthdays, work events, even knitting shindigs. One couple who met on the Metro held their pre-wedding bash at metrobar, which was named a best bar finalist by the city’s restaurant association in 2025.

If anyone needs a reminder of the bar’s inspiration, the Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood Metro station sits next door, worthy of a toast.