New Dog-Friendly Bar to Open in Manayunk

A new dog-themed bar will occupy the former Bark Social's space in Manayunk, which shut its doors late last year.

The Atlanta-based chain of dog-friendly bars called Fetch Park will occupy the space at 3720 Main St. The company, which describes itself as a "social hub," will provide coffee, drinks, and food for humans. Dogs will be limited to the outdoors on the covered patio and turf field. All Fetch Park locations feature cooling stations, outdoor TVs, and free Wi-Fi. 

The Manayunk location will be Fetch Park's first for the chain outside the Atlanta area. Since it launched in 2018, the dog-themed bar has gained national attention and has appeared on the Discovery Channel, ESPN, and the Travel Channel.

Commenting to the Philadelphia Business Journal, Fetch Park co-founder and CEO Stephen Ochs said he hopes the new facility will be open by the fall. 

Entry to the park is free for humans, but dogs will need a membership. The membership fee ranges from $15 for a day pass to $275 annually for unlimited use of the park. Dogs need to be at least 4 months old, and dogs 8 months and older must be up-to-date on their vaccinations. Additionally, dog owners will be required to sign a liability waiver.

According to PhillyVoice, the former Bark Social opened its doors in Manayunk in April 2023 as one of the company's five locations. Others were in Washington, D.C., suburban Maryland, and Baltimore. Another Bark Social establishment was scheduled to open in Los Angeles this year. In November 2024, however, the company announced it would close all locations after it could not secure financing to maintain them. Bark Social filed for bankruptcy in December 2024.