Tuesday, February 18, 2014

@HStreetDC_: XII Liquor License Saga Continues

H Street 362

@HStreetDC_ reports that XII (1123 H Street) failed to send a representative to an ABRA roll call vote, and ABRA refused to let it go. It sounds like they must start from scratch with the application process. This is not great news for an operating club/bar/restaurant. That's particularly the case when you consider that XII doesn't exactly have a warm & fuzzy relationship with some of its neighbors. Their website lists some events happening this week, and they remain fully open. I'm told that XII can continue to serve alcoholic beverages while seeking a whole new license (or possibly a renewal license).

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Too bad ABRA's so friendly. They will get their license back, nobody plays hardball there.

Anonymous said...

This is racist. Just because this bar has many African American patrons, you're picking on it. But of course, this is the type of racism I've come to expect here.

Anonymous said...

So they missed something. Big deal.

All the busybody chatter on Twitter about this makes it pretty clear lots of people love the idea of this place being shut down. It makes me uncomfortable that so many of my neighbors get so excited about a largely black establishment getting canned on H Street.

Anonymous said...

Curious as to what is the specific beef that the neighbors have with XII?

Anonymous said...

Smith Commons is black owned and welcoming to folks of all colors, which is awesome. XII is not like Smith Commons though, there have been multiple instances of fights, stabbings, etc at XII. So lets not pretend this is just a racist attitude because it really isn't.

Anonymous said...

"... the two Mexican broads..." coming from the sensitivity police. Classy.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure why the tweet used as the sole source of information says the license was canceled while, oddly, the blog post conflicts with that statement.

It's really not a big setback if they have to submit a new application, as the process still opens them up to protests, etc. and take about as long as a renewal application. So, really, much ado about nothing.

inked said...

1:59,
I don't personally have a problem with XII, I do think it's important for business owners to at least make an effort to comply with ABRA regs, & meet deadlines.

2:18,
I think it mostly has to do with noise issues.

3:03,
The tweet says "cancelled," but info received as I was writing the post clarified that though they will have to apply for a license, they can operate as normal in the mean time. So while other sources of info weren't listed in the post, it wasn't entirely based on the tweet.

JohnnyInDC said...

I might add that XII is also located on the second floor of a corner building, with nothing on three sides to block any noise. When there's a live band performing, it rattles my windows more than a block away. Worse, soundproofing that was added over the windows by the previous owner was REMOVED by the current owner.

Anonymous said...

that's not loud music, chief. That's the twerking.

Anonymous said...

If noise is the issue and you want to complain, call 911 every time you can hear the music in your house. DC has something called a "noise at night law" that allows police to arrest if there is loud noise after 10pm. If they don't do anything or give you the runaround, try e-mailing the MPD-1D listserve or the commander or chief.

Anonymous said...

What level of denial does it take to believe that the people who get up every day and take care of their communities and families are the criminals, but the people who are destroying their communities and families and are in prison are the victims? SMH

Anonymous said...

Wow... this sounds like a simple compliance issue. If XII can't or won't comply with licensing requirements or refuses to appear to defend itself, it doesn't deserve to operate.

If it's a noise problem that it can't or won't mitigate, it doesn't deserve to operate.

If it's a myriad of other issues described (fights, etc.) that it can't or won't deal with, it doesn't deserve to operate.

I have a hard time believing it's been "targeted" unless it has failed to comply with one of above, not to mention the other reasons mentioned in this post.

Anonymous said...

@8:53, if only it were that simple. Love nightclub is about 3/10 of a mile away from my house as the crow flies (I live on the other side of the RR tracks), and I can often hear their music INDOORS (inside my house) in warmer months. I HAVE called the police, and they tell me there's nothing they can do, they are permitted to play their music at that volume, and I need to take it up with the regulatory authorities who make the rules. Between that RACKET and the crime generated from the club, I truly feel for people who live even closer...but DC refuses to recognize it as a problem.

I enjoy nightlife as much as anyone, but the noise levels allowed in SOME neighborhoods here are patently insane. I've gone to see rock shows on U St., and you can barely hear the music right on the sidewalk outside the venue. ALL venues need to be held to this standard, no matter where they're located, but the city, so far, has proven itself unwilling to demand this, except where extremely monied interests get involved. Maybe they're too busy fighting Ralph Nader and his minions over whether a free library in exchange for developing the space above it is a good deal...oh, wait...money, again.

Anonymous said...

@10:06pm: If the police state that they are refusing to enforce the law that's on the books, you're getting the run-around and I'd recommend escalating to Tommy Wells since he's over the Council's Public Safety Committee.

More info on the noise at night law: http://dcist.com/2011/02/noise_law.php

Anonymous said...

"Smith Commons is black owned and welcoming to folks of all colors"

Yeah, because 12 is not welcoming to white people, I mean, they don't even sell artisan cheese and craft beer!

The way the people in this neighborhood openly display their intolerance for anything that doesn't directly cater to their culture is pretty disgusting.

Let me save you some time with your responses: "But no, no, it's because of x that I heard happened there y years ago, it's definitely not at all because a lot of black people go there and I don't feel comfortable with that."

poo poo said...

ok, ok. but.... can someone please point out any positive reviews of this place? anything outstanding that they have provided/done with the community? i'm not saying they deserve to be knocked, but i'm not finding any PRAISE anywhere. not even yelp.

Anonymous said...

I didnt know people of any color went to XII. They do look like they have a nice roof though

Anonymous said...

how many shooting have to happen in front of that place until its shut down?

Anonymous said...

Anon 4:51pm -- Two.

HTH. HAND.

Anonymous said...

@ 11:29:00 Smith v XII
Some black folk feel unwelcome in white establishments. Some white folk feel unwelcome in black establishments. If you decide not to make an effort and just cater to your own culture do not be surprised when you do not receive support, understanding,or help.

Anonymous said...

very true. But the white folks got all those freemasons and jews and stuff, so they just mainly do alright without the black establishments. Those korean dudes, though, they got it all messed up with those yellow businesses that need black dudes to buy all their stuff. Mainly those lotto tickets, I guess. And then that black dude who had that black market on the FLA and 12, I don't know what he did wrong. Musta been those damned freemasons. Or the jews. Do those different devils ever come together and form some kinda white dude/jew voltron? I don't know.

That's what she said...

@poo poo...

I lol'ed. A lol so lol, its befitting of the double entendre contained therein...

Funny in and of itself, and funny that it likely went over most of these commenters' heads.

In the words of the great poet Homer...

...it's funny cause its true.

Lol

Well played.

My Captcha was 'uuddlrlr baSlSt', madeMy daY said...

Overheard in DC. [Two patrons waiting to be seated at Toki Underground]

"...it’s like saying I don't like Paris cause the don't speak American"

"Whatever. That doesn't even remotely compare. Language has nothing to do with their history of complaints and, let's be honest, violence."

"Ok. It’s like saying I don't care for Premier League cause every time I’ve been to a game, the fans always end up fighting at some point. Not only are you painting an event you barely understand on the surface, fans went to the game in the first place."

"Yeah, and the same way I'd stay cognizant of any fights that might break out at said hypothetical soccer game, is the same way I'm aware of the violence in my neighborhood. The only difference is, I can choose not go to the game. [Pause] I live a stone's throw from XII!!"

"Surprised you didn't say 'earshot'--"

"Or gunshot."

"Funny. What's even funnier is that XII was there way before you moved to H Street."

“See, you know, I hate it when people use that excuse. Even masochists wanna feel safe. Like seriously, c’mon man…you can’t grandfather violence. And anyone who would try to defend that seriously needs to be checked out.”

“Look man, I’m just saying. If somehow I could wave a magic wand and guarantee that tonight there would be no inkling of violence at XII. And then we went there for the entire night, I guarantee you would be uncomfortable for most, if not all, of the night…and it wouldn't be because of the music. Ha, remember what you told that chick, ‘I listen to all types of music.’”

“[Pause]…yeah, it’d be because they don’t serve any single malt.”

Me again... said...

*"Ok. It’s like saying I don't care for Premier League cause every time I’ve been to a game, the fans always end up fighting at some point. Not only are you painting an event you barely understand on the surface, at best, with a broad brush, you’re completely missing the actual game itself...you know, why fans went to the stadium in the first place."

Anonymous said...

"If you decide not to make an effort and just cater to your own culture do not be surprised when you do not receive support, understanding,or help."

How well would you say Bier Garten Haus caters to the Black culture? I mean, why the hell do they have polka bands playing there all the time? We love go-goin DC, Beer Garden House should hire a go-go band because that's what I like. What's that? they won't have a Go-go band? I hope they fail then.

I am glad that I can enjoy a beer at BGH and "Familiar Faces" at 12. It's called diversity and was one of the qualities of this neighborhood. But let's just make all the places just like Smith commons, because everyone, or at least all the people that matter, likes that!

-11:49 AKA Keith

pat said...

I'm with inked, if these people can't attend an ABRA meeting, that's just bad management.