Just when you though there was going to be a lull in squabbing over liquor licenses, here comes one that's sure create more than a stir (from the ANC 6A listserv):
ANC6a Community,
A restaurant/tavern that offers nude dancing, most recently operating in Southeast DC, hopes to move to 1335 H Street. The operation, known as "Ron D's" would be a license transfer to our ANC. There are numerous issues that need to be reviewed, not only alcohol licensing issues but zoning issues related to this type of transfer.
While zoning and licensing regulations may preclude transfer of this license, we want to hear from the community regarding views on the "appropriateness" of this type of establishment on H Street. The owner, or his attorney, will make a presentation at the next regularly scheduled ABL Committee in June and answer questions. The committee will then listen to community discussion.
At the same meeting, an applicant for a Class A license on the 900 block of H Street will also make a presentation. This liquor license would also be a transfer from another part of town. There are currently 4 Class A, and 3 Class B licenses between the 700-1500 blocks of H Street, NE. We need to hear your comments on this application as well.
Both of these issues will be addressed at the June 20 ABL Committee meeting, held at Sherwood Recreation Center from 7-9 PM. I encourage everyone to make your thoughts heard...either at that meeting, on this list-serve, or to your SMD Commissioner.
Mary Beatty
ABL Chair
ANC6a05 Commissioner
I tried to find some info on this place but a search (google & phonebook) turned up nothing. The business name doesn't appear on any directory of gay oriented businesses (not that I know that this is one) that I could find. FYI -1335 H Street is currently occupied by Phish Tea.
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I don't think we really need to panic about with this particular application. Not only is the zoning all wrong, but it would be virtually impossible (as I understand it) for an establishment featuring nude dancing to locate at 1335 H Street NE because there (by my count) 4 churches, 1 library, & 1 school that are probably all located within 600 feet of 1335 (many of the same issues mentioned previously when it was rumored that Show Bar, aka Palace of Wonders, would be a strip club, and more recently when there was concern over a strip club locating on Mt. Olivet). I don't think it would be particularly difficult for the community to successfully object to this one. It now sounds like there may have been some sort of error with the address, so maybe the application is for an entirely different area of the city?
15 comments:
I'm pretty sure I know what a strip club is but what does the Class A license mean with respect the 900 block?
Thanks for the heads up. No strip club is going to open on H street without a fight.
"There shall be 2 classes of off-premises retailer's licenses: (1) A retailer's license, class A, shall authorize the licensee to sell spirits, beer, and wine." DC Code § 25-112. A class B licensee is only authorized to sell beer and wine. The "off-premises" means that the alcohol must be consumed elsewhere. Sounds like another liquor store, which H street needs about as much as a fish needs a bicycle (apologies to Gloria Steinem).
It also looks like the nude place is opening up where phish tea is--so does that mean its closing?
From the ABRA website, it looks like "Ron Dee's" is currently located at 2840 Alabama Ave, SE. Meaning, of course, that this is not one of the gay clubs kicked out by the baseball stadium. Applicant was listed as "Ronald Dickson."
If we're taking a poll, I'm opposed.
Also opposed. I don't really like Phish Tea but I'd rather have a restaurant that a strip club on my street.
Same here. I vote for tea over T&A.
My vote is against a strip club as well. I think that the last thing that we need is a strip club on H street.
And why would we need another liquor store on H? Isn't there a liquor store on 4th and H?
I'm more interested in the ramifications of Phish Tea closing down. Does this mean that the neighborhood can't support a sit-down restaurant? How is the Argonaut doing. I noticed that every time that I walked by Phish Tea, it was empty.
"Does this mean that the neighborhood can't support a sit-down restaurant?" I don't think I would make that assumption. There are many reasons why a restaurant would close that have nothing to do with its viability. And if Phish Tea had trouble attracting and keeping a clientele, that doesn't mean another restaurant which provided a different kind of food, experience or level of service couldn't thrive in the same area. My own observation is that I enjoyed my food the two times I ate there, but the service, particularly in the bar area, was at best uneven. That said, I hope all of this is conditional and that Phish Tea will continue to do business.
i only hope this ron dee character isn't black. if he is, i suspect schwartzman and the post, and that other nut job from brooklyn will soon chime in to play up the racial angle.
This was sent by Marc Borbely to the ANC6a listserv: I just spoke with Ricky Montgomery, director of operations at Phish Tea, the establishment at 1335 H St. NE. He said Phish Tea has no plans to close and knows nothing about a nude dancing place coming to 1335. He said maybe someone got an address wrong. He said he will check with the other Phish Tea investors and let us know if he hears anything different.
Sounds Phishy. If this is the wrong address how did the liquor license request get to ANC6a which just happens to be the right section for Phish Tea?
Phish Tea... Well , if they are not closing they should cause they left a bad taste in my mouth a few months aga when I did a small event there.
phish tea is owned by some young idealistic cats. i wish them well.
I believe the strip club in question is a place called Clancy's located at 2840-B Alabama Avenue. I don't think anyone has anything to worry about with all of the changes going on.
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