Monday, March 15, 2010

The Queen Vic

Something caught my eye when I glanced over the latest agenda for the ANC 6A ABL Committee agenda. The following was in the new business section:

The Queen Vic 1206 H St. NE Ryan Gordon

Anyone have info on this place?

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UPDATE
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Can/Dave left this link to the business' Facebook page. It looks like a British style pub serving food and drink. 1206 is currently under construction, and they have a May 2010 anticipated opening date on the Facebook page (we all know anticipated opening dates can get pushed back). It sounds cool. I'll post more info as it comes along.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its a men in drag burlesque show place with mostly former African American NFL players as headliners. I don't think it'll take off.

THANK YA! I'll be here all week....

READ ME DC said...

A British beer and food pub.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/The-Queen-Vic/284920588079

Anonymous said...

Great news, though I wonder at times how many bars H st. can really support.

Anonymous said...

I dunno - The restaurants and bars are on H street are packed. I think more bars will still do well. Think of how well Adams Morgan does and they have bars on top of bars. Build them and they will come...

Anonymous said...

I agree. Keep them coming. But why are all the bars between 14th and 11th st? The other side of H st that's closer to Union Station seems completely dead. I would assume since that side is closer to transportation and cap hill there would be more development on that side than on 14th. Not that I'm complaining..

Anonymous said...

The answer to your question lies in the H Street Development Plan!
http://tinyurl.com/yg5okb6
It outlines the Feng Shui of all future H Street Development!

Derek said...

Try this for the H Street Development Plan

http://www.bakerprojects.com/hstreetne/pdf/1_H_St_4Strategic_lr.pdf

not on parker said...

I think The Queen Vic has a loooooong way to go before opening.

I haven't seen an ANC6A Notification in some of the more recent DC Municipal Registers and haven't seen any building permits beyond the one he's using for interior demolition.

It's not to say he doesn't have these things in the pipeline, but going through the license, permit, and build-out process is a frustratingly slow exercise in government incompetence. Thanks to the District of Columbia kakistocracy!

Anonymous said...

Dear Anonymous 11:17,

Welcome to the wonderful world of land speculation. People in the Western End are waiting for a big developer to buy them out and give them a jackpot payday. With dreams of supernormal profits dancing in their eyes for just holding onto their property, they are much less motivated to invest money to make mere normal profits.

ro said...

is this the same location that had the fire last year?

not on parker said...

People in the Western End are waiting for a big developer to buy them out and give them a jackpot payday...

I disagree, to some extent.

I would venture to guess the remaining property owners in the 300-block of H Street NE (Square 0777) would like to be purchased by the primary land owner.

But last I checked all of the businesses in the 400-block of H Street NE (Square 0809) are either undergoing renovations or ready for tenants/build outs.

Have you heard something to suggest otherwise?

oboe said...

I agree. Keep them coming. But why are all the bars between 14th and 11th st?

'Cause I live down this end. And I drink. A lot.

Unknown said...

Does anyone know if any places will have corned beef and cabbage on Wednesday? I'll be in the area for a concert at the RRH (a great band that night, btw) and would love to start the night with a St. Paddy's Day staple.

Anonymous said...

Guess there's no way to keep H from turning into the new Adam's Morgan.

Derek said...

The Dubliner will, but they are not on H St. I am sure Tonyt at the Pug will get something going.

Anonymous said...

Thanks derek..that info was much easier on the eyes. Anything happening with Arboretum Place yet?

Anonymous said...

I think h has a better mix of restaurants and bars than adams morgan. The upcoming menu at the queen vic is pretty impressive as are the current food choices existing or coming to h. As for st pats, the pug will have irish whisky The green beer will be in adams morgan, yet another difference between our neighborhoods.
tonyt
the pug

not on parker said...

Guess there's no way to keep H from turning into the new Adam's Morgan.

Except that it's not turning into Adam's Morgan, which could be accurately be characterized as having more bars than restaurants. Here is the list of H Street businesses based on what they sell:

Primary goal is food (20): Ethiopic, Inspire Pizzeria, Liberty Tree, Rita's Water Ice, Tao, Taylor, Naby's Island Restaurant, Philadelphia Water Ice Factory, Souk, Sticky Rice, Toki Underground, H Street Country Club, Dangerously Delicious Pies,
Vendetta/Dolce, Joe’s Coal and Ice House, Sweets and Treats, Radius at the Ohio, Angelico's la Pizzeria, Dr. Granville Moore's,
The Argonaut,

Primary goal is alcohol (9): Toyland, Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar, Twelve, Liquid, The Queen Vic, Palace of Wonders, The Red & The Black, The Pug, Biergarten Haus

Not sure (3): Drew, Wisdom, Sova Espresso and Wine Bar

green poo said...

I went to a St Patty's celebration last Saturday. 10 hours of indulging in green made my stool turn green.

green poo said...

*green beer

Anonymous said...

See, h street has poo poo and adams morgan has a bunch of kids who live in moms basement and dress cool. adams morgan has felix and heaven and hell. We've got gastropubs, dumpling shops, and an aldi. (Too soon? Sorry).
tonyt

Anonymous said...

Thanks Not on Parker for your fairly comprehensive list. I would take a couple of things off, including some speculations and food venues that would not be considered as "restaurants": Rita's Ice, Tao, Philly Water Ice, among others. In fact, when I look back over your list, it almost seems as if most need to be taken off if defined as restaurants.

If you went by DC license, how many actually have "Restaurant" license as opposed to "Tavern" licence? If I'm not mistake, a "Tavern" is allowed to have higher % of alcohol sales than food. If this is the case it appears, legally we have way more Taverns (bars)than actual Restaurants.

We need more retail - something besides the wig shops.

Still Doesnt Frequent Wig Shops :) said...

tonyt: dont forget wig shops! Adams Morgan doesnt have wig shops - they aint got nothin' on us!

Jordan said...

Not on Parker - I acknowledge that this is total word of mouth, but from current business owners on H St I have heard that the majority of the vacant property owners on the west end of H are not only falsely advertising their properties as "For Sale" but they don't even want to lease them. Now that doesn't make any sense to me. Why not lease it out for a couple years while the big developers put their plans together? Go figure.

Anonymous said...

Joe Englert said:

I think most of the people who wanted to sell their buildings or HAD to sell their buildings have already done so. I think you are going to have a lot of pie-in-the-sky folks waiting for their $1,000,000 payday after inheriting a building from Aunt Fanny in the 50's for nothing.

It is sad but true that many of these people will have fabulous pay days once the streetscape is done even though they did little or no work.

And when it comes to retail, we are two years too early for it people. It won't happen until the streetscape is done baking. Also, if there isn't some sort of moratorium in place, retail will never happen. Liquor is the best and highest use in the present economy.

Roneeka said...

Awesome to see so much interest in our Pub. We have been working on the permits for ages, so should have something concrete soon hopefully. The Vic is going to be a traditional pub, british beers, football (soccer) showing regularly, friendly service and some simple hearty pub food. If you have been to the Pug on saturdays for Brunch, you will know Ryan, who will be more than happy to bore you with all the details!

Dave B said...

Can we hooligan it up during/after the US/England World Cup game? Who does the hooliganing, the winners or losers? Or can everyone hooligan?

You can wear The Pug's riot gear helmet

DCJaded said...

So next year when both the English and Irish pubs are up are running, can we have a big fight up and down the street?

Someone should tell Kathy Henderson, cause these pubs will totally attract the Irish and English gangs.

curmudgeon said...

Joe Englert wrote:

And when it comes to retail, we are two years too early for it people. It won't happen until the streetscape is done baking. Also, if there isn't some sort of moratorium in place, retail will never happen. Liquor is the best and highest use in the present economy.


Speaking only for myself, I don't have a sense for a good target to shoot for with a moratorium. I think everyone agrees that we don't want H Street, or even just the east end of H, to end up like 18th Street thru Adams Morgan. On the other hand, I think most people hope for a little more food-and-drink development than is present now, particularly food; and the folks closer to the west end of H would probably like to see more of either. The question is, what's the sweet spot in-between? If you were talking about a moratorum on tavern licenses covering the 1000-1400 blocks of H, what would be a reasonable number? I don't have any competency here, so I don't know what to think.

Rayful Edmond said...

"I think most of the people who wanted to sell their buildings or HAD to sell their buildings have already done so. I think you are going to have a lot of pie-in-the-sky folks waiting for their $1,000,000 payday after inheriting a building from Aunt Fanny in the 50's for nothing."

The recently repealed vacancy tax tackled this issue.

Anonymous said...

Yuck, British food. Grey greasy chips and fish.

I'm mostly German. I'll be across the street and down a block. (Ok, a little Irish too.)

Alan Page said...

wish the langston grill was on h

ah well, i guess someone had to be the pioneer on benning

Anonymous said...

Joe Englert said:

Yes, it would be a great idea to have a moratorium on any more licenses in the 1200 block and 1300 block unless it was a CR--straight restaurant license.

And perhaps have an overall moratorium of 75 licenses for the entire strip.

This would mean creating an opportunity for other retail to get a foot-hold.

Anonymous said...

Joe, I agree with you completely, though many will think you have a vested interest in keeping the number of bars to a minimum because it benifits you as well. And whether that's the case or not, you probably realize others will say that. With that said, how might we argue for a moratorium because I think we've already reached that point? No more bars, more restaurants and retail!

Anonymous said...

Any of the folks from Walford going to be behind the bar? ;-)

LFM said...

The Queen Vic is being opened by my friends who are great supporters of H Street, and as a resident of the neighborhood I can't wait to have it open!

Roneeka said...

Any of the folks from Walford going to be behind the bar? ;-)

No, but I plan on growing a huge peroxide blond 'do and having 2 bald sons and a daughter with 1 nostril....

poo's significant other personality said...

can someone please provide links/sources to the recently repealed vacancy tax rate? i'm verrrry curious about this. TIA!

dru said...

I think you consider naming the place the Crown Vic instead.

This way you will get all of my neighbors from Trinidad inside. But then again they may try to steal you.

Anonymous said...

the star and shamrock will be at a event tomorrow http://www.champsdc.org/mc/community/eventdetails.do?eventId=252415&orgId=champ

poo poo has a sense of humour said...

The train goes through a tunnel and it becomes pitch black in the car, a loud SMACK is heard... the train emerges from the tunnel and the Englishman is rubbing his cheek.

The Swedish girl thinks "I bet he tried to grope me and accidentally got the old woman and she slapped him..."

The Dutch woman thinks "He must have groped the Swedish girl and she slapped him..."

The Englishman thinks "The Irishman must have groped the Swedish girl and she accidentally slapped me..."

And the Irishman thinks "I can't wait for another tunnel so I can smack that English guy again."

poo poo knows whisky AND beer said...

this one's for tonyt

After the first day of a world brewing convention in the states, the CEO's of various brewing organisations retire to the bar.

Bruce, the CEO of Fosters, shouts to the barman: "In 'Straiyla, we make the best beer in the world, so pour me a Fosters mate.

Bob, CEO of Budweiser calls out next: "In the States we brew the finest beer known to mankind and i make the king of them all. Gimme a Bud".

Hans steps up next: "In Germany we invented das beer. Give me ein Becks, der real King of beers."

Paddy, CEO of Guinness steps forward: "Barman give me a diet coke with ice and lemon please."

The others stare at him in stunned silence, amazement written over their faces. Eventually Bruce asks: "Are you not going to have a Guinness Pat?"

To which Paddy replies "Well, if you pussies aren't drinking, then neither am I".