Logan Circle bar increases sales by 50% during ‘Love is Blind’ watch parties

Crown & Crow owner Brian Harrison crafted drinks for the Love is Blind season seven cast during a prohibition-themed party while the show was filming last November.

Almost a year later, he and events coordinator Melissa Harrison host watch parties for the reality dating show as it premiered on Netflix this month.

The couple has seen the Logan Circle bar bring in about a 50% increase from its normal Wednesday revenue during the Love is Blind watch parties.

“I think it’s the kind of show that’s super fun to watch with a group of friends,” Melissa said. “The fact you can be on set with your friends hanging out and watching at a watch party at The Crown & Crow is definitely exciting.”

They’ve hosted two so far — one on the Oct. 1 premiere and another on the following Wednesday. There will be a watch party each Wednesday until the reunion episode releases Oct. 30.

Love is Blind is a hit Netflix dating series where couples can’t see each other’s appearance prior to getting engaged. After popping the question, they have about three weeks to explore their compatibility in the “real world” until challenged with whether they’ll wed at the altar. 

At the show’s season six peak in March 2024, Love is Blind was the most-watched streaming title on any platform with 6 million minutes viewed, according to Forbes.

Season seven was filmed in Washington, D.C.

As a nod to the show, The Crown & Crow has created themed discounted drinks for the watch parties such as the “Red Flag,” “Love is Tonic,” “Gaslighter,” “Social Experiment” and “Bottle Needed.”

“The drink special will change as the season progresses as we find things within the season that would be relevant to make funny with a drink,” Melissa said.

Guests in the sold-out crowd mingle and talk back to the TV each week.

“It was really festive and fun,” Melissa said. “I just had a smile on my face the whole time.”

The watch parties have brought in some Crown & Crow regulars in addition to new Love is Blind fanatics. Friend groups, girls’ nights and dates sat around the tables positioned toward the TV.

Michael French of Chantilly, Virginia, was drawn to the watch party to sample the Love is Blind-themed drinks while meeting his girlfriend’s friends.

“We’re definitely into the show, and [we asked], ‘Why not hang out and meet people and have fun at the same time instead of staying home?’” French said.

The bar has moved its popular trivia night from Wednesday to Thursday to make way for Love is Blind.

“Wednesdays are already a pretty strong night for us,” Brian said. “We were at capacity or close to it in the room where we have the watch party, so it would be challenging to perform any better than what we’re doing.”

Stephen Zagor, a business professor at Columbia University who focuses on restaurants and food business, described restaurants as real estate businesses where tables are rented and average checks are the revenue.

“If you can bring a group of people in at a time that would normally not be your prime time and you’re able to build a menu … where people are going to maximize your profitability by being there, it’s a win-win,” he said.

Zagor also said events like watch parties bring in new clientele while keeping their existing base satisfied.

“Restaurants don’t sell food,” Zagor said. “They sell experiences.”

The bar received an influx in business as soon as it was announced as one of this season’s filming locations.

“It wasn’t just the watch parties,” Brian said. “It’s just really a lot of buzz about the program and people wanting to see the venue as a result.”

Melissa said watching the show premiere “on set” is particularly exciting for customers.

“We feel really strongly about people getting out in person with other human beings and looking at each other’s faces and making eye contact and developing real relationships and meeting,” Melissa said. “It’s a perfect combination since the show is about making those connections as well.”