Run, Don't Walk- The Doors Are Open at Dogwood

There is something poetic about pulling up a stool at a dimly lit bar, getting a whiff of fresh burger meat grilling, and watching a hazy IPA splash into an empty pint glass. Whether you are ending a long day or kicking off what will be a long night, Dogwood has captured the simplicity of good low brow food and a cozy aesthetic- making it one of Beacon’s move beloved neighborhood bars.

When George Mansfield opened the doors to the bar nine years ago, he had a solid vision, looking through a particularly unique lens- and he made it his mission to curate and manage Dogwood to be a true snapshot of Beacon’s eclectic community.

 

Dogwood is slightly ‘off grid,’ nestled just a couple blocks off of Main Street. Here, the locals can comfortably tread while the waves of tourists are limited to those who have really done their research on the best of the best bars in town- it is one of Beacon’s true hidden gems.

George admits, the history of the bar speaks for itself.

George: This is one of the oldest operating bars in the city!

Though the building is old, the interior is timeless and for lack of a better word, just so cool.

You’ll most likely find George running around with his staff, casually in jeans, black chucks, and a Dogwood tee shirt. The team (probably unknowingly) truly embodies the unpretentious vibe of the bar.

George: I wanted this [Dogwood] to be a really welcoming, sort of haven for people. I want them to feel at home.

George moved to Beacon from Brooklyn in 1999 and he notes how he watched Beacon quickly transform and gentrify, following the opening of the city’s art museum, Dia Beacon.

George: Oh yeah, there was a big surge of people moving here when it [Dia] opened. The artist community grew a lot, but there was a real mix of people moving here.

He says that when new people arrived, there was a stark contrast of locals and brand new residents, making it difficult for Beacon to have a cohesive community.

George saw a real need for a go-to watering hole where all are welcome- and he knew it was a perfect opportunity to open a place like Dogwood.

George: It just felt, at that time, that Beacon needed a place that someone could just walk into and get a real sense of the community- and the whole community, not just the new people that were starting to move here.

George made an effort to get to know the people in Beacon (no wonder he is a city councilman!) He took what he learned from long-time locals and new residents, and he made it his mission to bridge the gap between the new and the old community voices, using Dogwood as his vehicle.

It’s a tough balance, creating an environment that attracts neighbors and visitors, but George seems to have struck the perfect balance by curating his bar authentically. Dogwood isn’t boasting five-star meals or top of the line liquor, but they do the basic things really, really well.

Dogwood also has an impressive concert stage, doubling as a live music venue, where local bands can play- including students from the Beacon Music Factory. 

 

If the delicious food and bumpin’ music doesn’t do it for you, then just take a look at walls of Dogwood- they are anything but boring.

Funky photos, trinkets, and wacky paintings line the walls and even ceilings of Dogwood. It’s like walking into an eclectic gallery, except you can munch on french fries while you peruse the art.

George: “We have a lot of local artists featured here. There is also a tiny gallery in the back you can check out. We don’t sell any of the art but we’re constantly adding new things. It’s pretty fun to look at everything when you walk in here!”

George’s plethora of aesthetic ideas somehow all came together beautifully, in this relatively intimate space.

He humbly admits that he’s been lucky to have a great customer following and his business has been pretty stable over the years. But it wasn’t easy for many other establishments on Main Street to keep up with Beacon’s gentrification.

George: I’ve seen a lot of businesses come and go on Main Street. Seems like recently it’s been more coming and staying, which is a good thing. I’m always happy to see new things popping up!

But it’s no secret on Main Street that many of the local businesses fell on hard times this last year during the pandemic, Dogwood included.

George: It was pretty traumatic [the start of the pandemic]. We definitely felt it coming, but we didn’t realize the severity of the pandemic until they shut us down. It all happened so quickly. We didn’t have any time to manage our inventory. We had food and beer just sitting here…all this stock that would have gone bad.”

George had to think on his feet, so he allocated the bar inventory - food, drink, supplies- giving anything he could to his dedicated staff. He also brought food to local soup kitchens.

George and his (vaccinated!) team, taking a breather as they prep for a busy Friday night

It was a chaotic time for Dogwood and as he focused on keeping his staff and customers safe, he made the difficult decision to hold off on reopening completely over the winter. Then, as Dogwood started contemplating an uncertain future, something truly miraculous happened.

A group of customers, long time lovers of the bar, started a fundraising campaign to help Dogwood stay afloat. They hosted a virtual event, a live streaming concert, and encouraged anyone who loves Dogwood to donate what they could to keep the doors open.

George: [he says a bit emotionally] They ended up raising around fifteen or eighteen thousand dollars! It was amazing. I was just so grateful … and shocked at how successful it was!

Seen here, Dogwood’s sign and a beacon (no pun intended) of hope for the community. This sign was moved inside after they reopened, a reminder that they made it through the storm with the help from the community.

George: That night [of the live streaming event], a guy came by the bar. I had never seen him before, of course he had a mask on so I wouldn’t have recognized him anyways. But he dropped by to quickly show support and say how he hopes we’re able to reopen. Then, he handed me an envelope full of cash [a donation] and left. I was shocked...I had never seen this guy before!”

George is still blown away by the dedication and unsolicited generosity of his customers - we couldn’t believe it either, talk about community!

With his priority now on making sure his team is secure and safe, as well as any customer that steps foot in Dogwood, George used the money that was raised to install a high-tech ventilation system for his establishment.

George: It [the ventilation system] runs throughout the bar and basically zaps all pathogens, while circulating in fresh air from outside.

Seen here, the new ventilation system at Dogwood – “This Machine KILLS COVID”

George’s thoughtful allocation of the raised funds, really solidifies Dogwood as a true pillar of the Beacon community.

As someone who has seen so much change in this city over the last decade, he is also humbled by his responsibility to pilot new changes and growth on a different scale. He recognizes the need to address the social infrastructure of the city as well. He hopes, during the next few years in office, to focus on the issues brought forth by BLM and B4BL during the recent demonstrations.

With the eye of an artist, the devotion of a councilman, and the grit of a business owner, George has manifested what he set out to do nine years ago- build a bar that provides a real snapshot of the Beacon community.

So, pull up a stool and stay a while. Sip on a local beer, enjoy the art, listen to the music, and maybe get to know George and his team- because when you come to Dogwood, you’re not just walking into a bar, you’re joining a community.