707 is the gray dollar store in this 2006 photo
Xclusive Restaurant and Lounge (707 H Street) is described as an upscale international restaurant serving an assortment of American, African, and Caribbean dishes. The applicants seek a CT (tavern) license with an entertainment endorsement that would allow them to offer live jazz and reggae, as well as a dj, and dancing. They plan to charge a cover. Total occupancy of 199, with seating for 99. There will also be a summer garden with seating for 14. It will be located next door to the planned Po Boys Kitchen.
Full application after the jump.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE REGULATION ADMINISTRATION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Posting Date: November 11, 2011
Petition Date: December 27, 2011
Hearing Date: January 9, 2012
License No.: ABRA-088205
Licensee: A Taste International, LLC
Trade Name: Xclusive Restaurant and Lounge
License Class: Retail Class “C” Tavern
Address: 707 H Street, NE
Contact: Christopher Nwaeze: 202-2699-3335, 443-615-5957
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 that the objectors are entitled to be heard before the granting of such license on the hearing date at 10:00 am, 2000 14th Street, N.W., 400 South, Washington, DC 20009. Petitions and/or requests to appear before the Board must be filed on or before the petition date.
NATURE OF OPERATION
New upscale international restaurant and lounge with diverse menu offering American, Caribbean and African select dishes. Entertainment includes live jazz, 3 man Reggae band, DJ, cover charge, dancing. Total occupancy load is 199. Total seating is 99 seats. Summer Garden has 14 seats.
HOURS OF OPERATON
Sunday through Thursday: 10 am – 2 am, Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 3 am
HOURS OF SALES/SERVICE/CONSUMPTION OFALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Sunday through Thursday: 10 am – 2 am, Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 3 am
HOURS OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Sunday through Thursday: 3 pm – 2 am,
SUMMER GARDEN HOURS OF OPERATION AND ALCOHOL SALES/SERVICE/
CONSUMPTION
Sunday through Thursday: 10 am – 2 am, Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 3 am.
30 comments:
The minute you name something "Exclusive" (even if you spell it differently), that is how I know it is not.
A CT instead of a CR? That tells you right there that all the concentration on food in that announcement is utterly for show. It's a bar/club.
I have a very distinct picture in mind as to what this place is going to be like. Its not a good picture. Well, chances are it wont last more than a year or so, and then at least the place will be renovated for a good business to move in.
I hope Im wrong about this though, and that it turns out to be a nice place.
-Jordan
This sounds more like a NOT so Xclusive CLUB. What are people thinking when they name an establishment like that? It usually means they are the complete opposite of what the actual word means. I don't see this as good news.
Not much the community can do unless pressure is applied to ANCc and 6c05 commissioner Tony Richardson to make sure that a voluntary agreement (VA) is negotiated between the establishment and the ANC to reflect community standards.
Unlike ANC6a which posts its standard VA and all VAs with ABRA license holders on the ANC6a website as public record, ANC6c doesn't post theirs, so we have no idea what they consider community standards.
It doesn't look like Xclusive would even come close in 6a. Except that the location is close. The south side of the 700 block of H Street is in 6c; the north side is in 6a.
Remember that once this license is issued, it's theirs. If the business fails, they can sell the liquor license to another operator, but the community is stuck with the rules that 6c negotiates now.
A CT instead of a CR? That tells you right there that all the concentration on food in that announcement is utterly for show. It's a bar/club.
^ with hours from 10am-2am?
Can the voluntary agreement specify that food be served during the entire period the establishment is open? Or that said establishment stay open during the hours on the license? If both are in the affirmative, this would be another lunch option on the street.
Has anyone done a study on potential lunch traffic in the neighborhood? As far as whether folks at the SEC, etc, would trek a few blocks in their cars to grab something on H?
If lunch traffic is not optimal, I could see a 10am-2am opening window being problematic for this establishment.
I would insist on a certain level of soundproofing in the VE, some of these establishments on the 1200 block have extensive noise leakage.
VA, not VE.
Got my acronyms mixed up, DC is that kinda town. Ha.
What I will say is, when I choose a restaurant, the idea that the owner put some thought into the name/concept makes me think they put some thought into the menu (the rather gimmicky name of Tru Orleans was my tipoff that the authenticity of the cuisine might be questionable...and I was right...the more subtly named, less touristy looking Acadiana nails that region's cuisine much better).
Wylie Coyote (fabulous name, btw) -- I wouldn't get hung up on the 10a. When they submit operating hours to ABRA, places ask for a wider range than they'll typically use; that way, they can host events or respond to market opportunities or whatever.
H Street is awash in crappy names - welcome to the neighborhood!
Did you all know that club XII stands for Ex too? and/or X2
i'm past the age where i'd go to a place like this, but i'm betting many people will. and yes, it does sound like a club. so what? i loved clubs in my 20's. how many places can someone go dancing on h? that all that many for such a popular nightlife area.
think of the kids!
$20 says this is a strip club. Exhibit A: begins with "X"
watch.
*sigh*
are there even any available strip club licenses?
It's true, H Street needs more different places for dancing.
Everybody was pretty sure that a strip club was impossible on H St until a recent Board of Zoning Adjustment hearing over the Stadium Club in Ward 5.
Here's a brief part of the board arguments plus a link to the entire hearing.
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/11/09/zoning-board-rules-on-the-stadium-club-no-sex-here/
This club is asking for a tavern license (CT) which means they don't have to serve food, plus an entertainment endorsement. Does the BZA decision mean that there could be strippers and pole dancers?
Places like this downgrade fast. This is not a good business for the area.
http://www.TateLoungeDC.com
I have a bad feeling about this one! Anybody want to place bets that this place is going to be bad new for H St. -- really bad news. Can you see young middle class area homeowners going to an establishment called "Xclusive?" I picture a very different clientele here. Watch. Tell me in a year (after a couple of shootings) that I'm wrong, please.
Would you complainers rather abandoned buildings? If you want change, be a part of it and open what you'd like! don't knock businesses without knowledge..You guys are a trip! lol
Can you see young middle class area homeowners going to an establishment called "Xclusive?"
Give me a break, these people have their every want catered to, and they are NOT the end-all and be-all of this neighborhood. Do you really think appealing to middle class homeowners makes an interesting and vibrant neighborhood? It makes a suburb.
I hope I can get in
To be fair, I could also see a place named Xclusive being located in Clarendon and catering to upper middle class dbags.
It seems like if a place is "bad news", the city shuts em down anyway. But then maybe they will then just reopen under the name Spesh-L or something
Anon 4:59
Is this the place you mean? http://sassynightout.blogspot.com/2011/08/little-gem-in-heart-of-city.html
Are you saying there's a connection? Same owners?
"upscale" = champagne room
Can you see young middle class area homeowners going to an establishment called "Xclusive?"
Give me a break. The subtle racism in some of these comments is absolutely ridiculous. I'm not super excited about this place, because it doesn't seem like my scene. But I in no way think H Street should be some sort of white new homeowner, aging hipster-land.
I'll say what most of you mean: OH NOES! A CLUB FOR BLACK PEOPLE!!!
8:24,
my thoughts exactly.
it's funny to how people mention places like clarendon and d'bags and all.
what they don't understand is that a difference between us and clarendon is that we are more tolerant of places like this. but once the tipping point of boring stuffy people move here, we will be the same as clarendon.
so you don't think you'll like a place because of a name? go somewhere else. that's the beauty of a diverse area.
Sorry 8:24, but your comment is not so subtle racism -- you seem to be jumping to the conclusion that there are no "young middle class homeowners" in the neighborhood that are black, but there are and I'd be willing to bet they too do not want Xclusive in the neighborhood.
Funny how some people will take up for crap just becasue it's a black owned business and they think whites are opposed to it. You just keep yourself and your community down. Let Marion Barry support this in his Ward 8. I don't want it in ours!
@12:44:00 AM
right
-Anon 4:59
This is a club. Doesn't matter if its target market is Eskimos. The record of problems at clubs in DC should be apparent to anyone who reads the Metro section of the Washington Post. ABRA has closed down a string of them in recent years for fights, stabbings, shootings, sexual acts, and other problems.
Love, H2O, Platinum, Island Cafe, Club 24, Ziegfeld's - all closed by ABRA. There have been fights at Ibiza and questions about The Reserve.There was a stabbing Saturday night at the Stadium Club. H Street has seen a higher incidence of problems with XII than with other liquor license holders. We've already seen the problems with places like 401.
Xclusive is asking for an occupancy of 199 people. The new Da Luft at 1242 H will have a similar format for about 100 people. XII already offers bottle service and VIP whatever for over 200 people. Who's next?
It's time to decide if we want a decent commercial district with a nice mix of restaurants,retail, and residential - or if we want to be a cheap version of Las Vegas. Will this be a place the community can enjoy or a place we avoid? If we avoid H Street, it will go downhill - FAST.
Post a Comment