Thursday, June 29, 2006

Restaurant Liquor Licenses & Schools

A controversial bill is in the works to alter the current law that automatically bars all liquor licenses within 400 feet of a school unless another business with the same license type is already present. The case in the article is that of Vegetate, a vegetarian restaurant that a young couple recently opened in the Shaw neighborhood. Vegetate is located onn 9th Street, a street that still contains a number of boarded up building that have yet to be "revitalized." The owners of Vegetate say that their restaurant may not be economically viable without the liquor license (in the Post article, one of the owners explains that they believed the 400 foot measurement requirement was from door to door, rather than property line to property line, which is the reality). Under current regulations, though Vegetate is barred from obtaining a CR, or CT (restaurant to tavern liquor license), another liquor store could be granted a license in the area. Two interesting pieces on the topic:
1. Washington Post -Request for Liquor License Uncorks Dispute
2. Rebuilding Place -Does a Restaurant Selling Alcohol Create a Pernicious Enviroment for Children?
Also see this Times article from earlier this year on the Vegetate debate. Don't miss the bit at the bottom:
"Officials with Shiloh did not return calls for comment. Shiloh members yesterday said that the church does not want the restaurant to have a liquor license because, unlike the nearby liquor stores, Vegetate is open on Sundays.
They'll be selling liquor from what time to what time and that probably will increase the crime," said one churchgoer, who refused to give her name. "We want to protect our children from that."

So, while I'm adding more links, check these out:
Goodspeed Update: Vegetate's Liquor License
Washington Post: Shaw's Vegetate: Meat- and Alcohol-Free

If you are wondering what information about Shaw is doing on this site, I'll just say that this new legislattion could have some pretty far reaching effects throughout the city. Plus, looking at the unintended consequences of the current law is a good reminder to always draft carefully.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

most of the shiloh people's kids live in maryland. they need to stop the madness. they're letting the 9th St area sit there undeveloped because they're obstinate for no reason. it's ridiculous. they're the ones that need to be re-zoned...out to the suburbs where they feel 'safe'. lol.

Anonymous said...

It is quite ridiculous. It's a restaurant for goodness sakes!

People aren't going to be going in there at all times of the day and just getting liquored up.

Anonymous said...

I don't think that the bill says that only a nice place like Vegetate can open up close to schools and churches. I think that it says any old joint can open. Then the joint will ask for an outdoor patio, then we will wonder how these places got a licence to operate in a residential neighborhood.

I do think alcohol sales in restaurants can affect kids. I saw a man slap his son in Etta's because the kid chugged his soda. Unknown to dad, the kid was copycatting a guy at the next table drinking a beer.

I think the Argonault (with it kind of closed in bar area)is a better environment for families than the so called family restaurant Martys on 8th street,which has a bar area that looks like a shiny alter to alcohol.

Anonymous said...

Anon says: "I saw a man slap his son in Etta's because the kid chugged his soda. Unknown to dad, the kid was copycatting a guy at the next table drinking a beer."

Brilliant. On that theory, all restaurants should be barred from locating near a school. After all, a restaurant "affects kids" because kids might see somebody wolfing down his food and then get slapped for doing the same.

Richard Layman said...

Restaurants can only open in areas zoned commercial. So this statement:

I think that it says any old joint can open. Then the joint will ask for an outdoor patio, then we will wonder how these places got a licence to operate in a residential neighborhood.

is incorrect.

Anonymous said...

It's now September 1; has anything changed withi this situation? I've been trying to find out, but haven't seen anything yet.

Personally, this is my neighborhood, and if anything I'd like to see Shiloh close down and more restaurants (with liquor licenses) open up.... Shouldn't I have more say than the maryland church commuters? (I did recently walk by on a Sunday morning and count license plates; 50% Maryland, 25% VA, 20% DC, 5% other)

Anonymous said...

Fenty is on the board for Shiloh. His unwillingness to help DC citizens on this issue shows the limits to his much vaunted aid to constituents. I personally voted against him because of this issue.