Monday, June 21, 2010

More News From the Argo

Hey, the Argo has a great post up on the day after the fire.  As many of you probably know, I was, at one point, a full time Argo employee. Scott offered me a job (I had no previous restaurant) at the Argonaut when I REALLY needed a job. Having worked there (including during Inauguration, and a minor kitchen fire) I can say that Scott, and his wife Shaaren, are all about the community.  We worked some crazy hours at that point, and I've truly never had a better boss, or team. Scott signed on to the Argonaut almost four years ago as a bar manager. Since that time he has:

-moved to the community (they own their home);
-met his wife (who worked at the Argo);
-had a wonderful daughter;
-created a community that was not just a bar, and restaurant, but also a wonderful gathering space for a very diverse clientele;
-become a partial owner of the Argonaut.
-created a Wednesday night that welcomes families downstairs, and pub quiz goers upstairs.
-made some local changes that make me so proud of him I can't event say.

The Argonaut was the first of the newer bars to open on the H Street Corridor. It holds a warm spot in my own heart, as well as that of many others. There have been some bumps along the way, but the Argo wants to come back strong, and I believe that it will come back better than ever. I know that plans were in the works prior to the fire to put in a walk in fridge in the basement that would have allowed for 12 beers on tap. The Argo now seeks to (while they rebuild) obtain a tavern license, rather than the restaurant license they have held. They have massive expenses, and who knows when the insurance stuff might come through. I strongly urge people to support the application for the CT license. The Argonaut has proved to our community that it wants to operate as a restaurant. I hope we won't punish them for a fire that wasn't their fault. I'm going to do something I don't normally do and grab most of a post from another blog (I think I'll be forgiven for stealing from the Argo blog):

day 2. dichotomies and sharing the love.

There's something about the day after that's been both worse and better. Even though reality has started sinking in and nobody's really running on adrenaline anymore, it's really nice to start seeing a (very loose) time-line for putting stuff back together. And, to learn that we CAN put stuff back together!

Great news in that it might not be unreasonable to be open in a month (upstairs and outside only), but frustrating to maybe have to wait 14 days for the fire Incident Report in order to get a demo permit (which we need to start working).

Emotions are both a little more raw, yet stable, too. On my run this morning I feel like I skipped almost every song: Nope, too sad. Nope, Argo memory. Nope. Nope. Nope. But yesterday morning's sniffles about what we had lost have made way for tears of joy and gratitude about what we've gained. I know how much The Argonaut means to us, I just had no idea how much The Argonaut means to the rest of you!

The outpouring of love and support has been really overwhelming and I cannot emphasize enough how much it's helped me (and Scott!) get through these last two days. Instead of jumping into panic mode, your support has helped us stay grounded and full of gratitude. I'll include most of the tweets and emails I've received at the end of this post - I hope people don't mind. I just thought you all might like to see what a fabulous and amazing community you are - and how lucky we are to have you.

Some more thank yous:

* Many thanks to our handyman, Herman! He came right away yesterday with the intention of boarding up just the downstairs windows and by the evening (in that blazing heat!) he and his crew (of 3!) had boarded up ALL the windows AND theTWO holes in the roof!
* Thanks to Mark (of Pour House, Trusty's, 18th Amendment and Star & Shamrock) for loaning us their Home Depot card so we could buy supplies to get the building boarded up.
* Thanks so much to Rock & Roll Hotel (and Steve, especially) for putting together our first fundraiser! The money will benefit both our full-time staff AND Argo in general. As I mentioned on the fundraiser post, it can take years for insurance money to come through, if at all. Meanwhile, bills and mortgage payments still pile up, so Argo's only chance for survival is to get up and running as quickly as possible. We've found temporary jobs for some of our full-time staff and with the fundraiser's money we can pay the rest of the full-time staff (and others) to clean and rebuild.
* Thanks to the very nice patrons of Granville's last night who bought us (Chris, Debbie and me!) a round of drinks. Really sweet and appreciated.
* And again, thanks for all the emails, texts, calls, facebook posts, tweets and, you know, regular hugs. They mean so much to us.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

we love you Scott, Shaaren, Ara, and the Argo crew! stay positive, this too shall pass, this community supports you!

Anonymous said...

If you need any help with the labor in getting rid of the debris let us know..I'm sure many of us would be more than willing to give you a hand

jamie said...

What is the best way to support the application for the CT license? Letter to ANC?

Anonymous said...

I agree completely with your sentiments about the Argonaut - especially the fondness for their being the first sit down restaurant we could go to on H. So please explain this to me:

"The Argo now seeks to (while they rebuild) obtain a tavern license, rather than the restaurant license they have held.... I strongly urge people to support the application for the CT license. The Argonaut has proved to our community that it wants to operate as a restaurant."

Is this a mis-type? If they have proven that they want to operate as a restaurant, why apply for a tavern license? Why do you believe they should recieve a Tavern license opposed to a Restaurant license?

I thought the consensus among many residents was MORE Restaurant licenses and LESS Tavern licenses. I believe there's some food to alcohol sales ratio that has to be met, but if they have been successful as a restaurant (as you stated) why change to becoming a tavern? Can someone please explain, because I personally can't support another tavern and would hope others would lobby against this in favor of their remaining a restaurant.

Tim said...

RE: 9:21

They need a tavern license now because they have no kitchen, which will take some time to rebuild. The Tavern license will allow them to open the undamaged parts of the bar to serve drinks which will help pay the bills until the kitchen is rebuilt. If they don't get the tavern license they could go under due to no income. Then, when the kitchen is rebuilt, they'll be the same old Argo with lovely food and a great atmosphere.

K said...

@anon, this wont be "another tavern" it will be The Argonaut. Regardless of the license they get they will continue to be a great asset to our community.

Anyone who has ever had to make an insurance claim knows that the insurance check will cover a lot but it doesn't cover anything. Every day The Argo stays closed it becomes hard and more expensive to open. They need to put the insurance $ towards fixing the kitchen and buying back inventory. They need to get open and start selling drinks to pay the bills and pay staff.

As neighbors we should be helping them get their doors open as soon as possible not making things more difficult.

Anonymous said...

Point well take Tim. Will they assure the community that once the kitchen is rebuilt they will reapply for their Restaurant License? If not, this puts me in a quandary. I desperatly want to see the Argonaut return, but I will be inconsistant if I support there being yet another tavern on the corridor. Unless convinced otherwise, I'm not in support of this - even if it's my beloved Argonaut.

Anonymous said...

Will they have to go before the ANC ABC Board to make the special request to change their license or can they simply request a change with the DC ABC?

Dave B said...

Something tells me that Argo wont use the tavern license to ditch what seems to be a successful business plan to open up Love on H

Rayful Edmond said...

I'm intrigued by the out pour of support when a local establishment is effected by fires, taxes, robberies, etc.

However, when a man is shot or a boy is run over, people just "eh, whatever."

Quite honestly, I'm ambivalent of the Argo fire and gang violence. As long beers are cold and mussels are hot, I'm happy at GM's.

Anonymous said...

Seems the owners won't have a problem reapplying for their Restaurant Liscense once the kitchen is up and running again then. H St. needs more restaurants and less taverns. Admit it, many of you would have said this before you wanted to make an acception for the Argonout Tavern.

Another Anon said...

Of course they want to reopen as a restaurant and not stay as a tavern forever. As a restaurant, they make more money and they have a niche. Better to let them serve as a tavern for a month or two than to lose them forever.

Anonymous said...

"I won't support the Argonaut. I don't want another tavern." God forbid YOU don't get what YOU want. Come on folks, this a great loss for many individuals and to our community as a whole. Being that the Argonaut was a flagship H Street institution, they took a great leap of faith by opening up where and when they did. This isn't some big faceless capitalist enterprise...it's real people. People who live and work where we do. This is my third year in the neighborhood, and I remember what it was like three years ago. What we have today, we owe to the pioneers of the corridor, the Argo being one of them.

Best of luck to them, and here's to hoping for a quick comeback!

DavyCrockett'sHat said...

god forbid you don't feed the trolls...

Cap Conservative said...

In reading the original post it seemed common business sense, from my point of view, that the Argonaut owners would pursue a tavern license in order to get back on their feet. They need revenue, that's money. At a point in the future, after insurance claims are paid, they would re-apply for the restuarant license. To end this ridiculous discussion regarding their intentions to operate a "tavern" or "resturant" and in good faith follow through on their word, would Inked or Scott respond to this line of postings.

Our family enjoys the Argonaut very much, my three year old calls it "the resturant." My wife and I have spoken with Scott and his family many times while dining there with our children, good people.

Support a small/family business.

inked said...

Their intentions are to open as a tavern and operate with a CT license ASAP in order to generate funds to continue to work on the kitchen and pay taxes, ect. But the Argo does plan to rebuild the kitchen and when that's complete they plan to go back to serving food just like they were doing right up until Sunday morning. Remember that the Argo actually was more like a bar when it opened. They made a conscious choice to become more of a restaurant over the years.

Anonymous said...

So Inked are you saying they may legally operate as a Commercial Tavern and not as a Restaurant anymore? I understand that it is financially expedient for the Argo to request a change in their license, but for all of us who opposed more tavern licenses and wanted to see more restaurant licenses, this request for support creates a quandary. I don't support having another tavern on H.

I support a TEMPORARY change in license to become a Tavern due to these unsual circumstances, but I'd like to be reassured that they would become a licensed Restaurant once the kitchen is operational again. I'd simply like to know if this is the owner's intent.

Will "Capitols" continue to take his 3 yr. old to the tavern that he used to call "a restuarant?"

- Argonaut (Restaurant) Supporter

H St Resident said...

I can't believe the debate over tavern vs restaurant. I bought my house in July of 2005, just about a month before the Argo opened their doors. They were pioneers of the H St restaurant/bar scene and set the way for other places to follow. When the Argo opened it was most definitely a tavern and has become a restaurant - by their choice.

I can't believe that people would even debate not supporting a tavern license to allow them to re-open ASAP. I'm quite sure we would all rather have a "tavern" (temporary) then a boarded up structure sitting at the Starburst Intersection.

Do you really think that they would turn away from what seems to be a successful business plan - ie - restaurant over tavern? This is a neighborhood establishment and the changes they have made over the years (better menu, better quality food) have reflected what the residents want. I can't believe they would turn their back on this and operate just as a tavern.

Scott and the Argo family - there are plenty of people out there rooting for you and a speedy recovery!

inked said...

Argonaut (Restaurant) Supporter,
that's not what I was saying. If you can sell enough food to get a CR license, that's what you would obtain. The difference between a CR and a CT is the percentage of revenue that must be derived from food. A CT license is more expensive than a CR license, so it would make no sense to apply for a CT license when you would qualify for a CR license. ABRA licenses are valid for three years. So I wouldn't expect them to run out an put in another application for a CR the minute the kitchen is finished. Licenses aren't cheap, and among the fees, the paperwork, the waiting in lines, the meetings, and the hearings, you're looking at a pretty big headache each time you apply for a license. I do expect them to apply for a restaurant license when it comes up again.

Anonymous said...

Can someone please explain the legal difference in DC between an establishment having a Tavern License vs. a Restaurant License? Is there any harm in having another tavern on H St? Will I still be able to take my children to a tavern?

inked said...

3:46,
the difference is the required percentage (45% for a CR) of revenue derived from the sale of food. You can take your kids to a tavern as long as the tavern owners allow kids. The Star and the Shamrock is a tavern. The fundraiser on the 30th is at the Rock and Roll Hotel, and you can take your kids. The Rock and Roll Hotel, by the way, has a CN (Nightclub) license.

Cap Conservative said...

Anon 3:16, will they still serve apple juice at the temporary Argo Tavern?

My 3 year old loves the mini kosher pigs-in-a-blanket at Star and Shamrock. Daddy loves the Messiah Ale.

My 3 yeard old also loves the pancakes at Tune Inn......but then who doesn't?

Anonymous said...

Thanks Inked for your clarrifications. I completely support the quick return of the Argo and hope they are up and running soon - even if as a temporary tavern. I would like to see them get their CR license again soon though as I also support an immediate moratoruim on future CT licenses on H until we have more restaurants and retail.

LIVINGSOCIAL Inkind Donation said...

I've been here for four years and own a home 3 blocks from The Argonaut. Love it. Will support the CT license and fundraiser.

I also recommend that anyone with outstanding LIVINGSOCIAL coupons leave them unused. Consider it a donation. I will be doing so as well.

Anon 5:03, STFU said...

Immediate moratorium on CT licenses for H St? You must be joking.

1. H St. continues to need more businesses - include bars. I'd rather have a bar than a vacant building or plot of grass. Once everything's fully developed, THEN you get to pick and choose.

2. Bars bring significant positive economic development. They bring JOBS, tax $$, and attract people to the neighborhood. All good things.

2. Don't like it? Do something. Sitting on your ass and complaining is not constructive. Don't block a tavern from opening on the HOPE that there is something better. If you want a restaurant, get a business plan, investors and make it happen or GET OUT OF THE WAY...

what happened to capitalism said...

I hope Argo keeps us posted with updates on process their going through with the city and their insurance company. I'm very interested in learning how a business (or any of us homeowners) can pay insurance premiums and not expect the insurance co to payout for several years, if at all. Now that's the story.

I do feel for Argo, their owners and their employees, but I simply do not understand a fundraiser for a commercial enterprise. If they need investors - er, "donations" - why incorporate and let the public buy into the corporation by selling shares and let the donors become owners? That's how it's normally done in our capitalistic society.

inked said...

Hey guys,
I just talked to Scott and Shaaren. They would go back to a CR ASAP. The CT is truly just due to the very unusual circumstances.

Cap Conservative said...

Isn't the fundraiser for the employees? As a gesture of goodwill from patrons and the neighborhood? The monies are not intended for the business. I love capitalism as much as the next guy, however, this is for the employees as they attempt to get their bearings. If I'm incorrect, please let me know.

Anonymous said...

@capitol, you are correct. as anyone who has ever lost a job knows....it takes time to find a new job. and in this economy....it takes a long time. the fundraisor is going to help pay the argonaut staff during the rebuild. many of the staff are full time and will be helping with the rebuild. this money will go towards helping them.....which thus helps the argonaut. ....and ultimitly this community.

Anonymous said...

This is what Marty stated in an earlier post when asked for clarification on whether the fundraiser was for the employees or the business...

"The money will benefit both our full-time staff AND Argo in general. As I mentioned on the fundraiser post, it can take years for insurance money to come through, if at all. Meanwhile, bills and mortgage payments still pile up, so Argo's only chance for survival is to get up and running as quickly as possible."