ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE REGULATION ADMINISTRATION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Posting Date: December 31, 2010
Petition Date: February 14, 2011
Hearing Date: February 28, 2011
License No.: ABRA-086210
Licensee: TBM Holdings LLC
Trade Name: t/a TruOrleans
License Class: Retail Class C Restaurant
Address: 400 H Street, NE
Contact: Stephen J. OBrien, Esq. 202-625-7700
WARD 6 ANC 6C SMD 6C05
Notice is hereby given that this applicant has applied for a license under the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and for objectors who are entitled to be heard before the granting of such license on the hearing date at 10:00 am, 2nd Floor, Suite 2000, 1250 U Street, NW, Washington,
DC 20009. Petition and/or request to appear before the Board must be filed on or before the
petition date.
NATURE OF OPERATION
New full service restaurant serving New Orleans style dishes with a Sidewalk Café. Live entertainment will be offered inside the premises and the sidewalk cafe in the form of New Orleans style by small groups featuring jazz, easy listening and soulful music. Seating capacity is 154. Total occupancy load is 182. Sidewalk Café seats 62.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Sunday through Thursday 7am-2am and Friday and Saturday 7am-3am
HOURS OF SALES, SERVICE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Sunday 10am-2am, Monday through Thursday 8am-2am and Friday and; Saturday 8am-3am
HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR INSIDE PREMISES
Sunday through Thursday 6pm-2am and Friday and; Saturday 6pm-3am
HOURS OF OPERATION FOR SIDEWALK CAFÉ
Sunday through Thursday 7am-10pm, and Friday and; Saturday 7am-12am
HOURS OF SALES, SERVICE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
FOR SIDEWALK CAFE
Sunday 10am-10pm, Monday through Thursday 8am-10pm and Friday and; Saturday 8am-12am
HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR SIDEWALK CAFÉ
Sunday through Thursday 6pm-10pm and Friday and; Saturday 6pm-12am
60 comments:
very very excited for this open up....
check out www.stadiumdc.com
Tru's other NE establishment.
who dat? tru dat. yeah, you right!
This ugly corner is going to look great once they're done with adding the second floor and renovating the first. I'm really looking forward to eating brunch outside.
I live close to here and am NOT okay with music on the sidewalk. Every time I hear something new about this place they add something new that will serve as a major disruption to the neighborhood. I'm all for development, but there are families who live here too! What the hell?
The owner and his rep made a serious point of mentioning that it will be a restaurant and have restaurant hours. I never bought it based upon the design and layout that was presented. Looking at their hours, it is exactly what I thought. I do not live in ear shot, but a couple of blocks away, yet I wonder if those who live right there will have an issue with noise, parking, trash?
The hours now posted make a great deal of sense for the space and use, but they were not selling it as such.
This is a huge part of the problem - they keep changing their plans. Or at the very least, they keep changing what they're telling people. I keep getting conflicting information. This is certainly wildly different than the information that they provided at the community meeting.
If I take their proposals all together, it sounds like they want to have music outside, and have music inside late combined with an open-air second story that serves until 2:00 am. That's clearly inappropriate for a place that borders residences.
This seems slightly different from the plans presented by Tru & co. at the Toyland meeting, specifically the hours and music outside. Dunno if this is an actual change in plans or a negotiating tactic. I'm not dead set against these alterations, but I also don't live directly across the street from them either.
As a homeowner who lives very very much within earshot of this place, we're pretty appalled by the new zoning application. The original plan was for quiet ambient music, and indoor hours of operation ending at 10pm on weeknights and 12am on weekends. As someone who has met the owner, I can honestly say that he does not care one bit how this place will affect the neighborhood. For those of you excited for outdoor dining and live music, think about how it would feel to have a second line outside your bedroom window every day. Not great, eh?
I've also met with the owner, at the ANC meetings they went to. He was very up front that he wanted to have live jazz here, which I think is entirely appropriate. While this borders a residential zone, it's always been a commercial street, since before anyone here was even born.
Note that they're going after a CR (restaurant) license... not a nightclub or tavern. This will be great for the neighborhood.
jazz, easy listening and soulful?
Sounds like you shouldn't be worried about the second line...more like KENNY G!! AAAGGGH!
There's nothing wrong with live jazz. I love live jazz. But live jazz on the sidewalk? That's a horse of a different color. And live music in a place with an open 2nd floor?
"While this borders a residential zone, it's always been a commercial street, since before anyone here was even born."
Thank you! If certain people got their way there would be no entertainment on H!
Sounds like some NIMBY's in denial are posting comments here.
Live jazz on teh sidewalk!! Oh, horror!
Was this the same place that the go-go club was proposed? Is the building owner a former 'skins player?
If it is going to be a "real" restaurant and not another attempt to palm off another nightclub...who is the chef?
people are simply not allowed to complain about noise are they?
no one can be expected to not experience change. but people can reasonably expect that they won't hear other peoples music in their own house.
if you had to endure this everyday, you would be pissed too.
we all want our city to revitalize, but people and our quality of life are always more important than business.
I love the people here who act like any concern about a neighborhood development must be crotchety old folks basically yelling at kids to get off of their lawn.
If you lived 3 doors away from an outdoor live music venue, and you had kids, and you had to wake up very early every morning, you might have a different feeling. Or is the neighborhood no longer for everyone?
How does this fit with the original H Street overlay? I can see a neighborhood bar for this section of H Street but not a venue for live music. I thought that was supposed to be up by the Atlas.
"If you lived 3 doors away from an outdoor live music venue, and you had kids, and you had to wake up very early every morning, you might have a different feeling."
Why did you choose to buy a house 3 doors down from one of the biggest commercial streets in DC if you were super concerned about noise? I'm not trying to be sarcastic I don't understand the reasoning.
@6:10:00 PM
He probably has no problem with a baby gap because he bought into the overlay plan that was established. As mentioned before, this part is not for entertainment(live music):
HS Overlay are to implement the Comprehensive Plan and the H Street, N.E. Strategic Development Plan; encourage residential use, particularly affordable housing and for reuse of upper floors; encourage the clustering of uses into unique destination districts, specifically a housing district from 2nd Street to 7th Street (HS-H),
Who thinks this place will open, if they don't get approved for live music?
Judging from the reviews Mr. Redding's other establishments have garnered, where in for a very mediocre offering. Public in AdMo (2.5 stars) is a shithole, and Sushi Rock (another 2.5 stars) is a Sticky Rice-wannabe. I won't even comment on Stadium Club.
What's with the bait-and-switch on the hours, Mr. Redding?
I think that a commercial corridor that borders residential streets and a commercial corridor downtown are two different animals and there should be some compromise on both sides. The owner here understands that he chose a business location that is right next to a residential neighborhood, so it isn't unreasonable for him to expect to make some concessions to surrounding residents regarding noise. Let's be reasonable here. This isn't, say, like Nation nightclub, which was opened in an area that could kindly be called industrial.
I'm not sure what is meant by "sidewalk music", that does sound like a second line, actually. No idea how that could be pulled off without driving the neighbors nuts; even hardcore venues like 9:30 Club don't have music *outside*.
I am also curious about who the chef will be. I grew up in New Orleans. To say we take cuisine seriously down there is a strong understatement. Hope this place does us justice.
On the bright side - two new bars have liquor aps in and are slated for Benning between 19th & 20th - yay trolley!! sbizzle
music outside....do not worry, the DCRA and DDOT will never approve this...everyone needs to calm down
sbizzle-- what's opening up on Benning?
doesn't the diner have music playing on the sidewalk?
Actually, in response to people claiming problems with noise. I work in the govt. with environmental and community noise. Noise regulations are not written so that you "cant hear" noise from industry and commercial establishments, only that they be below a certain annoyance/interference level. Most local and state regs will have limits anywhere from 45-60 dBA at property boundaries or at peoples homes.
There should never be an expectation that you will never hear anything from the business. This is simply not realistic. However, there should be understandable, and measurable limits that businesses have to abide by.
I'm glad I bought 10 houses down the block from H. All you fools who bought real close. Enjoy the noise suckas. And thanks for making my property values go up with your strollers!
Thank you Commissioner Richardson for pushing this through the zoning process! I love nothing more than being awaken late at night by loud music. Hopefully, your constituents will have better sense than to re-elect you again during the next voting cycle.
Love it! Cannot wait for this venue to open...and play live music.
The two new bars are Rail Station Stop (IIRC) on the South side of Benning and on the North side, between the fake custard place and I think a liquor store, a as yet un-named bar, currently called 1820 Benning Road bar. I hope this ends up as an improvement as I abhor the intersection of 19th/Benning road and its constant population of riff-raff. sbizzle
dcjaded,
say my neighbors are playing music that i feel is too loud, what are my legal recourses?
Max noise level is 60 db at nightime in a commercial zone. You can learn more by reading DCMR title 20 , chapter 27:
http://os.dc.gov/os/frames.asp?doc=/os/lib/os/info/odai/title_20_part_1/title20_chapter27.pdf
I also live within earshot of this location, but contrary to some other neighbors, I am very excited for it to open and wish they would get moving on renovations! They were supposed to be open for Mardi Gras, but I imagine that will be delayed. I understand the concerns about noise - trust me, I have to be up for work before 4AM. But seriously, would I rather have a business on that corner or another vacant property? Easy answer! If the place gets too loud, I'll report it to the police or Mr. Richardson. Knowing Tony, the community agreement will have strict provisions on how much noise this place makes. I agree that the owners other establishments don't give us much confidence, but this one has something none of those do....US! I look forward to the opening.
I live next to constant whining and complaining. I prefer the jazz.
I am suspect of the owner after the last fiasco. Give him the food and drink license but live entertainment should be earned after proving themselves a good neighbor. Otherwise this proposal smells.
Live entertainment, if the food passes the test.
@anon 8:05
:tu +1
Neighbors in Richardson's SMD might find some guidance in the Voluntary Agreements used by ANC6a for outdoor spaces, particularly for sound abatement and limiting hours of use. They require screening to dampen the noise from crowds and do not allow live or amplified music outside. Check www.ANC6a.org for examples of VAs for existing liquor license holders on the east end of H Street.
There is a difference between a fenced "summer garden" that closes early, with sound absorbing landscaping behind a restaurant or bar, and a wrap-around balcony exposed to the street on two sides of the building where people can drink and speak at elevated volume with music late into the night.
Asking ABRA to limit the use of the balconies or what is allowed outside is the right of the community. Richardson should support them before the ANC and ABRA.
It's much easier to get an understanding of community standards from the beginning than to correct a problem after it happens.
VA's are not the way to go. It is like dealing with the animal after it has left the barn.
The proposal does not fit the overlay. PERIOD. The restaurant with recorded dinner music is fine for the neighboring property owners. If Odell didn't like the riff-raff hanging on the DC owned lot, I can guess what he thinks about this proposal.
Many of us owners have waited a long time but not for another nightclub in disguise. I can wait for something better. All good things come in time.
The only problem I have with this place the name seems kinda stupid. Other than that, i hope they get some good acts. That Yamomamen band that was playing at the H St fest was great.
There are some dbags who hang out in their back yard near my house talking about stupid shit late a night with kinda loud voices. Its a city so I deal with it.
I'd rather hear Tru Orleans music.
Why are VA's like dealing with the animal after it's left the barn?
Out of the barn, like the nightclub goes in when there shouldn't be one in the first place according to the H Street Overlay Plan. You still wet dreaming it will be some fine dining experience.
What a concept to sell to the neighborhood, New Orleans food/jazz. Unfortunately, upon approval that idea will have served its purpose and then the go-go club will be in full swing. I can't believe the gullability of some posters.
I sincerely doubt this place will ever be a 'tru' go-go establishment. However, I wouldn't mind some Mardi Gras shenanigans every once in awhile. I am particularly fond of seeing exposed breasts, drinking copious amounts of booze, and dancing to live music.
I think Matt at Cap. City Brewery responded to comments about their liqueur license application once. If i remember correctly, he said that restaurant owners make their application broad to make sure they are covered. He used his example of wanting to allow people who have birthday parties at his diner to be able to dance, hence he put dance floor on his license application (or something like that). It's probably the same situation here. I'd wage a bet that this guy wants to host live jazz bands that can be heard at low levels out side during dinner. If this is the case then it's no different then the Argonauts external speakers that play music during dinner hours at low (nearly background noise) levels, or the beirgarden's external televisions. The music will most likely have to be turned off at a certain hour and not aloud to be played during other nights (like week nights).
There is VERY LITTLE residents can do to prevent a business coming to their neighborhood and doing business in a certain manner UNLESS legislative language and/or rulings of empowered government bodies (for example, DCOZ) stipulates otherwise.
Some ANC Comissioners, civic associations, and independent residents have been clever enough to convince proprietors otherwise by holding meetings, showing up at hearings, assembling VOLUNTARY agreements, involving lawyers, etc. But the smartest of business people know that, provided they obey regulations (the law of the land), the denizens can complain all they want.
I think Matt at Cap. City Brewery responded to comments about their liqueur license application once. If i remember correctly, he said that restaurant owners make their application broad to make sure they are covered.
That's exactly what it is. Proprietors select the most versatile license available, as business plans change through time.
Thank you Commissioner Richardson for pushing this through the zoning process! I love nothing more than being awaken late at night by loud music. Hopefully, your constituents will have better sense than to re-elect you again during the next voting cycle.
The variances requested for 400 H Street are no different than any of the variances requested by any other proprietor on H Street. Richardson had no grounds to oppose the variances for off-street parking, floor ratio, and loading. Sorry if you suspect otherwise.
This place is fairly far from Whiney Street and yet...
Are there any businesses in the District that have live music on the sidewalk at night? I'm thinking it would be difficult to keep live music plus patrons below 60db.
Did anyone receive any notification from Tony Richardson regarding the Petition and Hearing dates?
Hey 2:16, read the H Street Overlay Zoning Regulations and the Design Requirements. They somehow got approval to bust the FAR requirements, show window requirement, and main entrance on H Street requirement for a project that is not a preferred use in the HS-H (housing) subdistrict. I don't understand how they got it approved or why the neighborhood supported it after spending so much time crafting the HS Overlay Regulations.
Hey 4:05, I read the overlay.
The key word is "encourage."
1320.2(b): Encourage residential uses along the H Street, N.E. corridor, particularly
provision of affordable units and reuse of upper floors
Does the Overlay have any force of law or regulation at all? I thought it was just a set of guidelines that were provided to the District, but the District is under no requirement to follow. Is that wrong?
The overlay is kinda like the constitution. A segment of the population clings to it, but doesnt realize that it doesnt cover everything, it can be interpreted differently, that is can be amended, and sometimes it is just outdated.
Generally when someone says "But the the overlay..." I just tune out because to tell you the truth, I'm not reading the sonofabitch and figure that unless it says something like "No restauarants named Tru Orleans that play live music at 400 H St are allowed" there are probably a couple ways to work around any restrictions
The overlay is incorporated into the zoning code. Of course, variances can be asked for and granted with the right amount of pull in this town. It is interesting how the overlay plan tossed FAR and density requirements practically up and down the H Street corridor except for this block. Talk about politics.
The owner of TruOrleans also owns a strip club in DC. It remains to be seen what sort of clientele TruOrleans attracts. Will this be a nice restaurant or another place where weekly stabbings occur?
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