Well, I wouldn't exactly say that Da Luft "is headed" to H Street, at least not yet. Their attorney explained to the ABL committee that the lease for 1242 was contingent on their getting approval for the liquor license.
They're asking for a CR (restaurant) license, although they said that they intended to stop serving food at 10pm while remaining open until 2am or 3am. They would agree to close their outside areas earlier.
There were also questions raised by ANC commissioner Drew Ronneberg about the use of the third floor and "penthouse" levels of the property. Under the H Street Zoning Overlay, these levels can not be used for the restaurant. They must be residential. The attorney said that they might use the space as storage or "infrequently" as a "party room" but IMO that doesn't seem to conform to the zoning regs.
The ABL followed their standard procedure which is voting to protest the license unless a Voluntary Agreement between the license applicant and the ANC can be agreed upon before the ABRA hearing.
"They're asking for a CR (restaurant) license, although they said that they intended to stop serving food at 10pm while remaining open until 2am or 3am. They would agree to close their outside areas earlier."
I'm curious about CR licenses. I understand the licensee has to demonstrate a certain proportion of their revenue comes from food. But does anyone know how this process actually works? Can a licensee sell a $500 chicken nugget to a single patron to offset the $1000 in liquor sales and meet the ratio required?
The reason I ask is that there's an establishment in the unit block of K Street NE that clearly doesn't operate as a restaurant yet has a CR license.
The attorney said that they might use the space as storage or "infrequently" as a "party room" but IMO that doesn't seem to conform to the zoning regs.
Anyone know who specifically is behind the restaurant?
Great questions, Not on Parker, and I would love somebody to explain this to me too. As close as I can figure out there are some arcane rules about the volume of food sales vis a vis alcohol sales, but I've never understood if those numbers were determined at the wholesale or retail level. There is apparently an alternative reporting method based on volume per seat in the restaurant. Does ABRA actually do financial audits? Really? In short, it's damned confusing which must make enforcement a nightmare. Well, it would be a nightmare if it were enforced. The only enforcement actions that I can remember were against some places in AdMo a few years ago. They had CR (restaurant) licenses but had long since stopped serving anything even close to TonyT's gourmet Cheese Balls. Busted. Closed.
The ABL Committee will host the Counsel from ABRA at one of their upcoming meetings and this would be an excellent question to ask. I don't think that anyone in the H Street community wants the Corridor to turn into nothing but a strip of rowdy barrooms. We NEED restaurants of all price ranges and we'd like a beer or glass of wine with our food sometimes. It seems that some places with CR licenses are nuisances while others with CTs are upstanding establishments. What shall we do? We have input into the ANC voluntary agreements, but we need clarification on what we should be asking for. This is only fair to the business owners and the community.
13 comments:
Organization Name: DA LUFT DC,INC.
Trade Name: DA LUFT RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Can't wait to see where this goes...
Well, It's a vacant lot now so anything is better...lol! Would like to see more than just restaurants on H though!
That is an old picture on google maps. There is a building there now.
An extremely ugly building by IS Enterprises. It should be torn down.
Well, I wouldn't exactly say that Da Luft "is headed" to H Street, at least not yet. Their attorney explained to the ABL committee that the lease for 1242 was contingent on their getting approval for the liquor license.
They're asking for a CR (restaurant) license, although they said that they intended to stop serving food at 10pm while remaining open until 2am or 3am. They would agree to close their outside areas earlier.
There were also questions raised by ANC commissioner Drew Ronneberg about the use of the third floor and "penthouse" levels of the property. Under the H Street Zoning Overlay, these levels can not be used for the restaurant. They must be residential. The attorney said that they might use the space as storage or "infrequently" as a "party room" but IMO that doesn't seem to conform to the zoning regs.
The ABL followed their standard procedure which is voting to protest the license unless a Voluntary Agreement between the license applicant and the ANC can be agreed upon before the ABRA hearing.
"They're asking for a CR (restaurant) license, although they said that they intended to stop serving food at 10pm while remaining open until 2am or 3am. They would agree to close their outside areas earlier."
I'm curious about CR licenses. I understand the licensee has to demonstrate a certain proportion of their revenue comes from food. But does anyone know how this process actually works? Can a licensee sell a $500 chicken nugget to a single patron to offset the $1000 in liquor sales and meet the ratio required?
The reason I ask is that there's an establishment in the unit block of K Street NE that clearly doesn't operate as a restaurant yet has a CR license.
The attorney said that they might use the space as storage or "infrequently" as a "party room" but IMO that doesn't seem to conform to the zoning regs.
Anyone know who specifically is behind the restaurant?
"Anyone know who specifically is behind the restaurant?"
Tru Da Luft?
Why do you people think its cute to use incorrect spelling? I would certainly be much more excited should the establishment was called, "The Loft."
*were
Unless of course they were going after the German das luft, which means "the air".
99 luftballoons
Great questions, Not on Parker, and I would love somebody to explain this to me too.
As close as I can figure out there are some arcane rules about the volume of food sales vis a vis alcohol sales, but I've never understood if those numbers were determined at the wholesale or retail level. There is apparently an alternative reporting method based on volume per seat in the restaurant. Does ABRA actually do financial audits? Really? In short, it's damned confusing which must make enforcement a nightmare.
Well, it would be a nightmare if it were enforced.
The only enforcement actions that I can remember were against some places in AdMo a few years ago. They had CR (restaurant) licenses but had long since stopped serving anything even close to TonyT's gourmet Cheese Balls. Busted. Closed.
The ABL Committee will host the Counsel from ABRA at one of their upcoming meetings and this would be an excellent question to ask.
I don't think that anyone in the H Street community wants the Corridor to turn into nothing but a strip of rowdy barrooms. We NEED restaurants of all price ranges and we'd like a beer or glass of wine with our food sometimes. It seems that some places with CR licenses are nuisances while others with CTs are upstanding establishments. What shall we do?
We have input into the ANC voluntary agreements, but we need clarification on what we should be asking for. This is only fair to the business owners and the community.
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