Liquor License Moratorium Extended in Glover Park

The Glover Park Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC3B) voted in November to extend the liquor license moratorium which has been in place in the neighborhood in one form or another since 1996. The decision, if approved by the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA), will prevent the issuance of more than one tavern license, while restaurants are not restricted in obtaining a liquor license under the existing moratorium.

Tavern and nightclub licenses are coveted in Washington, DC because businesses holding such a license do not need to meet minimum requirements for food sales compared to restaurant license holders, which typically must reach 45% of annual sales from food. Both tavern and nightclub license rules do state that license holders need to serve beverage AND food, but the regulations do not specify a percentage, so food becomes incidental to generating revenue from alcohol sales and entertainment. In addition, tavern licensees are allowed to play recorded music and have a small dance floor without an entertainment endorsement, which requires additional approvals from the ANC and ABCA, usually with operational concessions. A nightclub license offers even broader leeway for the license holder by allowing live entertainment, a dance floor of any size, and a cover charge, without the need for an entertainment endorsement.

ANC3B, which includes Glover Park and the Cathedral Heights commercial area on New Mexico Avenue near American University, has 25 active liquor licenses plus two in “safekeeping” status for Sprig and Sprout which closed over the summer, and for Kiin Laow, a Thai restaurant expected to open where Social Beast vacated four years ago. Safekeeping allows for a streamlined license re-activation process without having to go through an ANC review, long neighborhood protest periods and an ABCA hearing and review. Of the 27, only ONE is a nightclub license (take a guess) and there are NO tavern licenses. We seem to be suffering from a major lack of entertainment. Though, five of the 27 do have entertainment endorsements – Wingos, Xiquet, Breadsoda, Old Europe and Kiin Laow (assuming the endorsement passes to them without ANC objection). Music and dancing – party on! Endorsements are a pain in the neck for businesses though – hearings, lawyers, restrictions, letters, applications, begging, groveling, arguing….ok it’s not that bad.

Brian Turmail, ANC3B Chairman, sent a letter to ABCA after the ANC vote requesting a modification to the Moratorium with extension to allow one tavern (not nightclub) license. The two reasons mentioned for extending the moratorium: 1) “the potential impact an influx of taverns and clubs would have on rental rates and real property values in a corridor where many businesses are struggling to survive,” and 2) “allowing more taverns and or clubs would undermine quality of life, particularly because of the possibility of added noise.” Business owners - get your application in first before the tavern license is gone!

Below is a list of all ABCA licenses in ANC3B (Glover Park and Cathedral Heights).

Chris Jones