Rather Sweet Revenge or One Last Shag?

Sweet Revenge, the retro-tinged bar/lounge located at 348 Franklin Avenue, is now One Last Shag.

Veronica Cassidy, a onetime patron-turned-bartender at the spot, told Patch that Sweet Revenge had to change the restaurant’s name because there’s another establishment called Sweet Revenge in the city and that other establishment threatened trademark infringement.

“It’s a cupcake shop,” said Cassidy. “And the woman who owns it trademarked her name, so she was legally required to go at us a little bit. But everything worked out super amicably and we always tell people they should go and buy cupcakes there. So we’re on great terms with her.

"She’s very supportive of us, we’re supportive of her, but we lost the name.”

Besides, Cassidy said, remaining the bar One Last Shag was an easy decision.

“Internally it was kind of a shock at first, but I think we all quickly realized that there was a great opportunity for us to start the second stage of our bar and now we’re approaching a more mature place with the bar after being here for a few years,” said Cassidy.

“So it’s been really positive, people have responded really well to the new name, people are excited about it.”

Sweet Revenge opened in 2008 and immediately stood out from Bed-Stuy’s sea of barbershops, bodegas and storefront churches. Its stylized digs featured shiny vinyl booths, wood panel wallpaper, and a rotating list of hot DJ's that appealed to newcomers, natives and young college crowds alike.

Yet, fans of the Sweet Revenge can be rest assured the only change the bar has made is with the name.

"I think that we’ve done a pretty good job of switching over, keeping our reputation—people still know what to expect from here," said Cassidy.

Indeed, little has changed with the concept. The menu still features a handful of brews on tap, munchies, cheap happy hour specials, beer, cocktails and other treats to keep your mouth wet.

The décor is cozy with cushioned stools outlining the bar, a couple of booths at the front that make for a mini-lounge and best of all an outdoor patio in the back that features multiple benches for straddlers to chill out, a sandbox, tiki bar and barbeques by local patrons.

Also staying put are the festivities says Cassidy. While the bar caters to “everyone that wants to have a good time”, weekly parties for Bed-Stuy’s gay and lesbian populace remain a popular attraction and the venue’s schedule continues to be jam-packed with an eclectic range of live shows and performances.

Emily Scanlan, a frequent patron at the former Sweet Revenge, said that the name change won’t have any effect on customers.

“The regulars, the owners and the bartenders who’ve worked here, they’re all great people,” said Scanlan, a carpenter and stagehand at The Public Theater. “The staff really pays a lot of attention to its customers and throws parties and events that its customers want.”

George Gavin, a Bed-Stuy resident and another regular at One Last Shag, agreed, saying that the name change will only help the business.

“It’s a more relaxed vibe and there’s a big diversity of customers who come now,” said Gavin. “The other night we pulled out a chessboard and it was fun to just whack it out and if you want to bring in some food from outside, they’re kind of cool with that. It’s just chill, which is the main draw for a place like this.”