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Glover Park Liquor License Moratorium
FAQ |
Who controls liquor licenses in the District?
The Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) manages the licensing system and investigates compliance with rules and license conditions. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC) makes decisions about the issuance of licenses and holds hearings on moratorium requests and on protests against individual licenses.
What kind of liquor licenses are issued in the District?
The different classes relevant to moratoriums are as follows (omitted are wholesale and brewery categories):
| A |
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Retail liquor store |
| B |
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Convenience or grocery store (selling beer and wine only) |
| CH |
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Hotel permitted to sell beer, wine and spirits on premises |
| CR |
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Restaurant permitted to sell beer, wine and spirits on premises |
| CN |
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Nightclub permitted to sell beer, wine and spirits on premises |
| CT |
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Tavern permitted to sell beer, wine and spirits on premises |
| CX |
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Club or marine vessel permitted to sell beer, wine and spirits on premises |
| DR |
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Restaurant limited to beer and wine sales on premises |
| DN, DT, DX |
|
as above, beer and wine only |
What does it mean to have a moratorium on liquor licenses?
Any resident or group of residents can seek to stop the issuance of new or specific kinds of liquor licenses in a defined area of their neighborhood. It is up to the appointed members of the ABC to rule on whether a moratorium is warranted and what form it takes based on evidence presented at a hearing. Criteria taken into consideration include ANC endorsement or opposition, resident testimony and police reports about problems with "peace, quiet and order," parking, litter and other problems related to licensed establishments.
Why does Glover Park have a moratorium?
Back in the early 1990s, a late-night club scene in Glover Park, dominated by a live-music nightclub located where Theodore's is now, got so disruptive that neighbors decided to act. After getting the club shut down by the District for multiple violations, the residents felt that a moratorium was the best way to limit the risk of other such establishments moving into the neighborhood and ABRA approved the request for a moratorium after a hearing. There was also a concern that, with a moratorium in effect in Georgetown, the pressure of bar and restaurant growth would tend to displace other retail uses in Glover Park which our residents value. The first moratorium was granted in July 1995. The current renewal expires April 15, 2008.
What does our moratorium restrict and what does it allow?
The Glover Park moratorium prohibits ABRA from issuing new licenses in the following classes: A, B, CR, CN, CT, CX, DN, DT and DX. The 1995 moratorium was modified in 2000 to allow new licenses for restaurants serving only beer and wine on the premises. The transfer of licenses to new owners is allowed as is the transfer of a license from one premise in Glover Park to another still in GP. Hotels are exempted from the moratorium.
You can read the full text (PDF) of our moratorium at Glover Park Moratorium.
Are there other moratoriums in the District?
Yes, moratoriums on issuing new liquor licenses exist in the neighborhoods of Georgetown, Adams Morgan, East Dupont, West Dupont and Glover Park . Each neighborhood has a different approach to controlling the number of establishments with liquor licenses. You can read the text of these other agreements (PDF): Georgetown, East Dupont Circle, West Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan.
Who has liquor licenses in Glover Park and what kind are they?
| CLASS A: |
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Pearson's Liquor; Wide World of Wines |
| CLASS B: |
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Glover Park Market; Apollo Market; Whole Foods Market; Food Town (convenience store for 4000 Tunlaw apartment building); one not in use (formerly Echo Deli) |
| CLASS CR: |
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Old Europe; Ceviche; Heritage India; Kavanaugh's; Bourbon; Busara; Town Hall; Margarita's Mexican Café; Sushi-ko |
| CLASS CN: |
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JP's Nite Club; Good Guys Restaurant; Grog & Tankard |
| CLASS CH: |
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Savoy Suites Georgetown Hotel |
| CLASS DR: |
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Mama Maria's/Enzio's (not in use); My Bakery |
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