ANC2C02 Forum

UPDATE Feb. 21, 2008; 11:50am:

Grapes & Hopes voluntary agreement as submitted by applicant for review by protest group on Friday, February 15, 2008. The protest group insisted on language to prohibit sales of single units of alcohol in containers of 40 oz or less which was left out of this draft.

Residents who would like to weigh in on this issue, but cannot be present at the protest hearing themselves, should not use the formal protest form below. Residents not attending the hearing can submit a letter to the ABRA Board stating their opinions on the license and address those statements, referencing the license information and number, to:

Peter B. Feather, Chairperson
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration
941 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 7200
Washington, DC 20002

Re:
512 Rhode Island Avenue, LLC
t/a Grapes & Hopes Market
512 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Retailer Class B – New Application
License No. 77268, Case No. 07/104P

These letters can be sent directly to the Board or sent to me (at ChappleANC ]at[ aol.com ) to submit at the hearing.

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Download and complete protest form including your name and reasons to protest this applicants license. Submit form to General Counsel, 941 N Capitol St NE, Washington DC 20001 by March 4. Forms can also be sent to the attention of Ms Cynthia Woodruff-Simms, Community Resource Officer by fax: (202) 442-9563 or Cynthia.Simms ]at[ dc.gov.

The ABRA protest hearing for the Grapes & Hopes Market liquor license is scheduled for Wednesday March 19. Protest forms are due Tuesday, March 4. Please read instructions for protest hearing on page two of the protest form.

The tactics used for months now by the applicant and his legal counsel to delay and draw out this process have effectively allowed the applicant to avoid any voluntary agreement that the public might hold the applicant to honor if he is granted a license to sell alcohol in our community.

Problems which disrupt peace, order and quiet as a result of an establishment not having restrictions on alcohol sales may add to problems we already face in our community. During the TreeBoxVodka/ANC2C02 cleanup a the beginning of the month, hundreds of containers of alcohol were found discarded as waste on our alleys and streets. From Rhode Island Ave down and around Fifth Street to Scott Montgomery Elementary School hundreds of crack bags as well as empty alcohol bottles and cans were picked up as a part of residents' constant effort to keep our neighborhood as clean as possible. Voluntary agreements are the best way for residents and neighbors to minimize the impact liquor stores have on our community and hold store owners responsible for the effects their products have on our community.