Cocktail Bar ‘The Last Penny’ Now Open in Locust Point
Cousins and Locust Point residents Dipal and Pratik Patel opened cocktail bar The Last Penny in recent months at the former Snug & Evil space at 1401 Decatur St. in Locust Point. Snug & Evil closed in November 2019 and the Patels purchased the building in October 2020.
Dipal Patel said they inquired about the space after hearing about the 108 new and now-under-construction Banner Row townhomes, which are located a block from the property. He said the restaurant space was under contract at the time, but when that fell through, they were able to purchase it.
Dipal Patel is a realtor. He grew up running motels with his family and had his first job working on a dairy farm. Pratik Patel is a business consultant who grew up helping his family with a pizza shop and grocery store in Highlandtown. Both have lived in Locust Point for the last 10 years and said they “love the Point” and want to “invest back into the community.”
The name The Last Penny came to be after getting suggestions from neighbors. The Patels liked the name because they joked that they are “sinking every last penny into it.”
The Patels saw a need for a neighborhood bar with good cocktails to complement the other “amazing businesses” in Locust Point.
Dipal and Pratik Patel said they want The Last Penny to serve the Locust Point community first and foremost and that they are always soliciting suggestions from patrons.
“The community has been very supportive so far,” said Pratik Patel.
The Last Penny has its own take on cocktails such as an old fashioned, Manhattan, whiskey sour, espresso martini, and gimlet, as well as additional cocktails that are constantly changing. All the mixers at The Last Penny are fresh-squeezed and house-made. The cherries are also fresh and soaked in bourbon.
The Last Penny also offers a selection of wine, hard seltzers, and beer.
The Patels will eventually add food and a new kitchen to The Last Penny. For now, it brings in food trucks, including Comfort Kitchen, every Monday. It also has snacks at the bar and offers Baltimore Boards charcuterie.
The Patels took on a full cosmetic renovation of the space redoing the floors, bars, walls, and light fixtures. The walls have local artwork from John Metzler. A new logo will be painted on the back wall and local photographs of Locust Point will be added.
It has three televisions that play sports.
The Last Penny is open Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 11pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm to 1am. There is trivia on Mondays and $5 glasses of wine on Wednesdays.
About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
