Dupont Circle

1624 Q Street, NW

From a press release on June 9th:

Popular and award-winning Dupont Circle restaurant Hank’s Oyster Bar was informed by Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) investigators on Friday evening, June 8, that the establishment would be required to shut down operation of half of its outdoor dining patio pending review of a prior ABC Board decision approving termination of a “Voluntary Agreement” with six area residents.

The sudden and unexpected order came without prior notification and in advance of an ABC Board hearing on the matter scheduled for Wednesday, June 13. The visit by agency investigators came in response to complaints by the small group of original licensing objectors.

The ABC Board’s decision in November 2010 to terminate certain operating restrictions imposed as a result of lengthy negotiations by the business with a small group of six alcohol-licensing opponents had been legally challenged by the protestors. The establishment, located near the corner of 17th and Q streets, N.W., has encountered multiple licensing protests by the ad hoc group since opening in 2005 despite operating without violation of city regulations and being supported by the overwhelming majority of neighborhood residents.

On May 17 the District Court of Appeals directed the ABC Board to review its decision to ensure that all requirements of the termination process had been met, noting that the regulatory language specifying termination standards was poorly written and difficult to understand. Although the appeals court had issued the ruling over three weeks ago, no directive had been issued by either the court or the city requiring any action by the restaurant pending city agency review.

“Having our popular outdoor dining area suddenly shut down without advance warning and as a result of a spurious complaint by the small group of only six objectors who have been harassing the business since we opened seven years ago is shocking,” said Leeds, who was on-site at the time of the surprise visit by city inspectors. “We haven’t even had our ABC Board hearing on this ongoing nuisance protest,” she continued, “and to be told as the summer season begins that we have to eliminate half of our patio seating is unwarranted and unfair.”

Although the matter had been previously scheduled to come before the ABC Board at a meeting next week, resolution of the licensing issue may take a number of weeks or months.

“Quite frankly,” Leeds added, “it is long overdue for the city government to decide whether it is going to continue to allow small gangs of disgruntled residents opposing every liquor license application to delay and destroy progress by the small business community in providing the social amenities desired by local residents in our neighborhoods.”

In a statement to the neighborhood released on Saturday, Leeds indicated “the right of a group of five residents to hold up a license application should be eliminated from the law. Otherwise the situation I find myself in will undoubtedly occur again.”

The prominent and respected local businesswoman and chef, owner of Hank’s Oyster Bar locations in both Dupont Circle and Old Town Alexandria (Va.), plans to open a third location this summer on Capitol Hill at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E.

Leeds released an open letter to the Dupont Circle community over the weekend.

Full letter after the jump. (more…)