A bellini-fueled Italian disco called Not For Long has quietly taken over the former Bidwell storefront inside Union Market, trading a full kitchen for a drinks-first setup. Instead of sit-down dinners, the pop-up is built around DJ-spun Italian tracks, glittering disco balls and Sunday afternoon dance parties, with the focus firmly on cocktails and a boozy frozen treat rather than a formal dinner menu.
What to expect
According to Axios, the bar leans hard into 1970s Italian disco vibes, pouring fresh-fruit bellinis, Negronis and spritzes alongside playful cocktails like a prosciutto-washed Old Fashioned and an Italian margarita made with tequila and Aperol. Beverage director Michael Saccone helped design the lineup, which puts a boozy sgroppino front and center, a lemon soft-serve blended with limoncello and prosecco, instead of a full savory food menu. Guests are invited to bring their own bites from any Union Market vendor to pair with drinks.
Who's behind it
Not For Long is the latest project from Gina Chersevani, the Union Market "mixtress" behind Buffalo & Bergen and Last Call Bar, who has become a familiar presence around the market. As reported by Eater DC, Chersevani has long operated in the area with a soda-shop-style counter and a nearby dive bar.
Where it sits now
The pop-up currently occupies the former Bidwell space at Union Market, the restaurant that opened in 2014 and helped anchor the market's lineup of vendors, according to The Washington Post. Axios notes there is no announced end date for Not For Long, though the name itself hints the concept might not stick around forever.
