ABRA approves Capitol Food Mart Class B license - with some restrictions

See this message from Bloomingdale resident Brendan L. Smith:

The ABC board finally released its decision today on the Capitol Food Mart alcohol license (1634 North Capitol Street NW) that was opposed by a large group of neighbors. I was the group representative at the protest hearing in July over concerns about public safety, loitering, trash, public urination, and other social problems relating to the overconcentration of stores selling alcohol in the area.

The ABC board acknowledged some of our concerns but approved the Class B beer-and-wine license anyway. However, the store is banned from selling single bottles and cans of beer or malt liquor, and the store owner promised to not devote more than 15 percent of the store`s floor space to alcohol sales. I hope those concessions will limit some of the negative impacts.

Somehow the board didn`t find there was an overconcentration of alcohol outlets, but the decision just mentions other Class B convenience stores, not the huge number of liquor stores already in the neighborhood. Thank you to everyone who took part in the protest! I think we can call it a success even if it wasn`t an outright victory.

....And see this brief message from Teri Janine Quinn, President of the Bloomingdale Civic Association:

Here is` the Capitol Food Mart order from ABRA granting a liquor license but prohibiting single sales. The order has been uploaded to the Bloomingdale Civic Association website http://www.bloomingdalecivic.org / .

agenda for this Monday's Bloomingdale Civic Association meeting

See this message from Bloomingdale Civic Association President Teri Janine Quinn:

Neighbors,

In light of the two recent fires in our neighborhood in about as many months, our treasurer, Michael Fine, had a great idea of asking our local fire department to attend the civic association meeting to discuss fire safety. Michael also suggested that we find someone to provide advice regarding what kind insurance coverage homeowners and renters should have to protect themselves and their belongings in the event of a fire. While we expect to have someone from the fire department in attendance, we have not had any luck securing an insurance expert. Please email me (terijanine @ gmail.com) if you (or someone you know) is qualified and available to provide this type of guidance at our meeting this Monday. We are not looking for a sales pitch, but rather a few tips on things we should look for in our policies to make sure we have the appropriate coverage. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. We hope to see you at the meeting.

Best regards,

Teri Janine Quinn
President, Bloomingdale Civic Association


Bloomingdale Civic Association Meeting Agenda

Monday March 21, 2011 at 7p.m.
St. George’s Episcopal Church, 160 U Street, NW

I. Presentation from At-Large Councilman Sekou Biddle

II. Introduction of Fifth District Commander Andrew “Andy” Solberg

III. BCA Committee Reports (Beautification, Block Captains, Membership Drive)

IV. ANC/Bloomingdale Grant – Update

V. Fire Safety Presentation (DC Fire Department)

VI. Update on Rustik Tavern’s Application for a Permit for Use of Patio Space

VII. Capitol Food Mart Liquor License Transfer Application Presentation

VIII. Updates from Bloomingdale Representatives

A. Executive Office of the Mayor
B. Office of Councilman Harry Thomas, Jr.
C. ANC Bloomingdale Commissioners

IX. Community Announcements

A. March 26, 2011 – National Marathon Race
B. April 9, 2011 – Bloomingdale Clean Up Day
C. May 21, 2011 – Bloomingdale Yard Sale & Family Fun Event in Crispus Attucks Park

The next Bloomingdale Civic Association meeting will be Monday, April 18, 2011.

a comment on Capitol Food Mart's pursuit of a liquor license

From a Quincy Place NW resident:

I read Bloomingdale Civic Association President Teri Janine Quinn’s helpful explanation for how to protest a Liquor License Application and I understand Commissioner Hugh Youngblood will provide an update on Capitol Food Mart’s Liquor License pursuit at tonight’s ANC 5C meeting. I am eager to hear what can be done. Admittedly, I was late to read TJ’s post, so I did not organize a group of 5 people to submit a protest in time. I regret that. I am stunned by the fact that neighbors do not need to be consulted when a business applies for a liquor license and wonder what on earth our neighborhood is going to do with another place to buy alcohol. I live on Quincy Place NW and I see every day the negative impact the innumerable liquor stores have on our neighborhood, including last night when a drunk aggressive male followed me home. I was a patron at Rustik. The drunk male entered Rustik, went straight to the bar and started yelling. The Rustik Tavern staff asked him to leave and he did. It was at the same time that I left Rustik to walk home. . He saw me leave and decided that I was his next target. He followed me from Rustik Tavern at 8pm screaming at and harassing me the entire way along 1st Street NW. I felt him on my heels, picked up my pace to a jog, called 911, and stayed on with the operator until I got back to my apartment. When I looked out my window, I saw him causing a scene in front of Sunset Liquors, likely his final destination. I am not sure if the cops ever picked him up. I know this guy was an exception, not a rule… and alcohol is a symptom not a cause, but after eight years living in Bloomingdale seeing the slow but monumental improvements we’ve made to our wonderful neighborhood, I cannot find words to express the frustration I felt reading about our neighborhood’s powerlessness in protesting another liquor license. Is it not up to us to define the kind of place we’d like to live in?

Capitol Food Mart at 1634 North Capitol St NW applying for an alcohol license

Some unknown person -- MTN1414 at hotmail.com -- who might live in the neighborhood asked to have this message posted:

I went to the Capitol Food Mart at 1634 North Capitol NW this weekend and saw that they have applied for a license to sell alcohol. It seems like there is little upside to another establishment selling alcohol within a block or two of the Florida Avenue intersection. Plus, unlike the liquor stores, the food mart would be able to sell alcohol on Sundays - likely bringing the people who loiter at the Florida Avenue intersection north. Given the recent shootings in the area, I can think of better ways to expand business in the neighborhood. Just wanted to give a heads up and see if others have concerns - I know there are ways to protest the license application. I believe there is a hearing on March 24.