Meeting Place: 415 H St NE - Site of Kelly's Liquors
Date : Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Time: 7:00pm
light refreshments
Organized by ANC Tony Richardson
FYI: this building is currently vacant. It is next door to Sidamo. The meeting is about a possible voluntary agreement for the liquor license.
25 comments:
What's the subject of the meeting, or is it just a meet & greet?
It is for the renewal of their liquor license.
Sigh. I guess not vacant is better than vacant, but another liquor store?
But any businessperson willing to open a store in the face of two more years of ungodly road and sidewalk renovations has my admiration. 2011 can't get here soon enough.
It's vacant and someone wants to put in another liquor store? But it's already called Kelly's Liquors? I'm confused. Was it a liquor store previously, went out of business, now a new one wants to go in?
Isn't the horrible little liquor store down on the corner enough for that stretch of H St? Do we need two liquor stores that close to each other? I can think of a million better ideas for that space (though, yes, I know, I'm not the one ponying up the money for the place).
there's no reason to have another liquor store. This city needs a qualified baker
The license is up for renewal. That's why the ANC is looking to negotiate a V.A. Kelly's Liquor is the name on the license.
Ohhh... was the subject of the meeting included in the post? Well, color me stupid. My bad.
For what it's worth, I spoke to the owners of the building and the holders of the license some time ago about their plans for that space, and they claimed to want to put in a "high-end" liquor store.
Please don't make me walk past two liquor stores on my way to Sidamo or Bikram Yoga. Please. I am completely against another liquor store. What a bad idea for our neighborhood. The space is better vacant.
3rd and H
NO....MORE....LIQUORS....EVER!!!!!
I am going and will listen to what they have to say and what their intent is and decide for myself. I suggest you do the same.
so let's say a place like Schneider's opened there. They're clearly an asset up on Mass Avenue -- and would be to H Street too.
Yes, I believe that something like Schneider's would (eventually) be an asset to H street. However, it is just too early (I believe) to add another liquor store. Especially within a block of the one on 3rd and H. I live close by and the things that go along with liquor stores are not what our neighborhood or the west end of H needs at the moment. Additionally, I'm just not sure I trust that the business model (high-end, etc) is what we will actually get. Plus, doesn't the establishment across the street on the 400 block have a liquor license? I'm all for new businesses. Indeed the foot traffic has increased greatly due to the Abdo project. There are a wide variety of businesses that would do well in the Kelly's space. Our neighborhood will regress if another liquor store is placed there--it's simply not the right time. We are just now trying to clean up the continual mess, urine, drunk people, trash, etc from the store on 3rd and H. Another (possible) problem store is not what we need.
3rd and H
Why not just deny the liquor license, and have the existing liquor store gradually morph into a "high-end" liquor store, just like the once skanky liquor stores on Barrack's Row (and P Street NW near Whole Foods) have done?
With the Abdo development across the street, that's going to happen anyway.
All-
Maybe this will be a restaurant and they want to renew their liquor license? I am still waiting to hear what they have to say.
Also, the new Italian restaurant soon to open on 2nd & F will be well deserved.
Italian food place at 2nd and F Street?? Details please.
Balducci's after 11 years in business closed down a few weeks ago. A new restaurant with an enlarged patio will open up in the next week or two. They will open for lunch and dinners, plus weekends too. Previously it was only open during lunch.
Maybe this will be a restaurant and they want to renew their liquor license?
Derek:
From my understanding, there's a "restaurant" liquor license, a "tavern" liquor license, and a liquor-store liquor license.
If they're applying for a license for a "high-end liquor store", it ain't gonna be a fancy schmancy restaurant.
Of what was described last night, they have a Class A license and want to renew it. They have been there since '91 and were the ones who were having any sort of up keep on that block. They closed their doors 2007 to refinance and to begin the process of updating the property, which they own. The owners were one of the main supporters Sidamo's and helped them open. Also, they spoke about removing and a complete revamped storefront.
For those who where there last night, please correct and expand more on this.
The following is from an email sent out today by David Rivera on behalf of the CHNNA regarding last night's meeting at 415 H Street:
I'll recall the proceedings as best I can (non-linear), and then will give my impressions.
The meeting involved the renewal of a Class A liquor license. The applicants (I never did get their name) have owned the building since 1991. It is a husband-wife team owner, some other partners, and a manager. They operated Kelly's Liquors for some time but closed up shop in the past years.
They have a good reputation. They are Ethiopian and were encouraged by the Sidamo folks (their close friends) to reopen a "high-end" liquor store there. Also, a resident of 36 years on the 700 block of 5th attended, and personally vouched for the community-friendly business practices of the applicants since they bought the store.
The applicants were surprised by the ANC protest, but now understand it's the "new thing" nowadays. However, they want to get up and running ASAP, targeting next month opening.
Some issues raised:
* they are not going to be a bar
* no interest in seeking a single sales exemption
* residents raised issues of alley use (loading, unloading) and garbage
* somewhat heated discussion about lottery tickets. One resident says losing tickets end up littering our streets, and wanted the applicant to swear off lotto unequivacably. The applicant does not want to "box himself in" in terms of his product mix.
* they will take down the security bars and make the store look inviting. The manager started talking about how he likes the Taylor's Deli garage-door storefront and they might do the same thing. General discussion of how architectural design matters alot to the neighborhood.
* parking was emphasized. They intend to deliver.
After the meeting, we walked downstairs to the retail store and walked thru. I wish we had done this first, because it is clear they are putting alot of care into the space, and it would have eased some people's concerns early on.
Impressions:
The applicants are sincere and I believe they want to be good neighbors. They carefully considered everyone's concerns and I think this was a good opportunity for them to "issue-spot" their business practices. They have a good track record of being responsible business owners here in the 1990s.
Personally, my main concerns are with their business plan, or lack thereof. They don't really know what they are going to sell, although they intend to do mostly wine. However, no one there has a background in wine. They will also sell spirits and liquor. Lottery tickets are still on the table. When we were downstairs, the manager said how he wanted to have a mini-grocery store there with cheeses, breads, meats. The word "high-end" was thrown around alot, which I began to understand meant merely that they wouldn't sell things known to create neighborhood nuisances.
The applicant says he will compete by being the convenient option to residents who don't want to go far for their wine and spirits. Also, he wants residents to tell him what they want so he can buy it in volume and make his profit that way. When asked, he had no clear answer how he was going to compete with Schneider's. Privately, I wondered how he was going to compete with the City Vista Safeway and future Harris Teeters and whatever other grocery stores end up in our neighborhood, all of which sell alot of value wines. So, some attendees were concerned whether the applicants might resort to something less than "high-end" if business didn't go as planned.
I understand Commissioner Richardson will update us all on the proceedings and his draft of the Voluntary Agreement.
David Rivera
Ooh, not sure an open garage door would be such a great idea at a liquor store. However, a more modern inviting design would be great instead of the grimy bulletproof glass doors at most of the places on H. If they don't have a background in wine, they should get a consultant to advise on types of beer, liquor and wine to sell.
As background, when I used to live in Chinatown, I saw the transformation of Chinatown Liquor. Similar story to Kelly Liquor, except it maybe has 200 square feet of retail compared to Kelly's 1000.
Chinatown Liquor is on H Street and 6th, with a X2 stop right outside its doors. Kinda like Kelly's.
It has a very nice mix of exotic spirits, decent wines. However, they also sell lottery tickets, cigarettes, cokes, and such. They also sell pints of cheap vodka, which I've seen them pull from behind the counter and sell them to guys who end up loitering a block away.
This is the scenario I envision if Kelly's Liquors doesn't have an in-house wine/spirit expert who provide "high-end" customer service and beverage navigation. I did not get any sense that the applicants had any pre-existing interest for "high-end" wines and spirits. You have to at least pretend in the retail world.
David- remember when they said more than once that they had that 'other kind of' store and it didn't work and don't want to do that again? ....and remember that they said more than once that they have no interest in getting any exemption to the single sale?
Yes I remember, and I believe them. I am just saying there is a difference between knowing what you don't want (their position) and knowing what they DO want. I am just concerned that they do not know what they want to sell.
If I already know what I want, then I go to the lowest cost provider. I am willing to pay a premium if someone furthers my education on wine or other spirit.
I wish them the best, I hope the community will shop there and buy good value wines or whatever at a competitive price.
I appreciate the concern about a lack of knowledge concerning wine, but they sound like good neighbors. Additionally, I like/respect Mimi and Kenfe (of Sidamo) enough, that their backing makes me feel more comfortable.
Yes I am sure they want to be good neighbors. I think we are lucky that they are there operating a new business. And I would rather that a business owner be more community-oriented than have a extensive knowledge of wine. I'll leave it at that.
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