Mount Pleasant DC Forum

[kelly5612]

Laurie, how do you reconcile this...

"A store that Mrs. B describes would...want...a CT (tavern) or CR (restaurant) licenses which are very obtainable--you'd probably want tavern or maybe even a DT (beer and wine only) type of license so you would not have to worry about a food requirement."

with this...

"As to the ease of acquiring another ABC license--it begs the question--aren't 17 ABC establishments enough within 3 block strip?"

Call me naive, but I'm guessing the MPNA will adopt the latter position when it's no longer a theoretical discussion.

As for the neighborhood embracing the idea, Mrs. B, I have no doubt it would. How do I know? I've already looked into the idea, and of course everyone I spoke with was supportive.

Because everyone wants to see MtP Street improve...or at least look like some version of suburbia-in-the-city, with St. Nectaire brie and Sumatran fresh roast. But what this also requires (which many people stop short of understanding) is someone willing to stake his/her life savings and take on massive debt so s/he can pay too much rent on a business with too low a profit margin. Plenty of people have done that, but in MtP you have to add the following considerations:

...in an area known for its warring factions (ANC, MPNA, etc.) and hostile climate
...in an at-best-stagnant/at-worst-floundering economic corridor
...where there is no Metro or outside interest
...with a growing and dynamic retail/restaurant scene a mere 3 blocks away.

Sorry, but that's a lot to ask, even of "true entrepreneurs."

[Mrs. B]

Thanks Kelly5612.
Laurie, would you please help me understand how I can coordinate your statement "If your end result is to have a place to have coffee, drink a beer, or a glass of wine, do the Internet, have a small book section, listen to some music and be a relaxing yet funky hangout, I think the neighborhood would embrace that". With your statement "As to the ease of acquiring another ABC license--it begs the question--aren't 17 ABC establishments enough within 3 block strip?" Your 1st statement says to me "yah that's a good idea" and your second says to me "go f yourself we have enough of that sort here."
Do you mean to suggest that the only way to achieve a "funky hangout" is that the MtP neighbors must convince a current license owners of a business that is already established here switch to something different when it's doing quite well already or would you be willing to consider that Mt P Street can incorporate or transcend something between/beyond/above (gag me) AM/CH/PW/CP neighborhoods and in order to do such a thing, permit an 18th ABC license be issued that will bring in a business that doesn't currently exist here?

Naive question: Is this all about holding the liquor license line?

PS: My kids are beyond this but I think a Mom's Morning Hangout, would have made me pretty happy*. Perhaps the Super Save might be the super spot? An indoor playground (yup don't go after me about the toxic wasteland, I'm just offering up ideas). Check out the Little Rascals Doggie Daycare in Petworth. What a great idea, kids need less room than dogs!

*There's a name for this right? just found it Gymboree!!! but no such thing in 1988 on 13th St.

[micmac]

"a place to have coffee, drink a beer, or a glass of wine, do the Internet, have a small book section, listen to some music and be a relaxing yet funky hangout"

I dunno but can't you do that at home?

[kelly5612]

OK, I may have figured it out. Are you saying that the existence of 17 liquor licenses in a 3-block area is proof of how easy it is to get one? Because it's certainly coming across in the confrontational manner Mrs. B. suggests.

Mrs. B, a liquor license is only one roadblock. I was told by many people I would eventually need the higher profit margins of alcohol if I wanted to make a living. However serving alcohol was not in my initial business plan. Then again, neither was losing money.

[DCCharles]

[Laurie]

Wow, I'm glad I was liming last night and watching soccer....

Sorry Mrs. B, my intent wasn't what you thought. I did say the community would embrace such a venue. I did say it is easy to get an ABC license. I did say there's no wonder why, with 17 licenses, another license would--or could--be contentious.

As to the hostile climate--the more you believe that, the more it becomes true. In my experience, I have had discussions with those who were contemplating opening alcohol establishments in Mt. Pleasant and elsewhere in the city. But the bottom line when deciding to take your life's savings or a loan and other huge risks to open a business-- the determining factor isn't whether the climate is a hostile climate or not.

Everything is negotiable and if another alcohol establishment were to come to Mt. Pleasant that would bring people out "liming", and the establishment were to give back to the community with their offerings and be successful-----GREAT!



LC

[Laurie]

Let me add one more thing. You don't have to sell alcohol to be successful. Where is the hostility in opening a Ben's Chili Bowl, or a Go Mama Go, or Urban Essentials, or Home Rule, or Pulp......?

[kelly5612]

People are looking for a place, as DCCharles said, to link us to our communities to the degree we're comfortable with at any given time. Someplace that takes us out of our homes and workplaces that we can spend time in, either just hanging by ourselves or getting in touch with others.

A home furnishings store, gift boutique or a fast food greasy-spoon like Ben's are not places where one can do this in a relaxing manner. Especially if you have little kids and you're going insane stuck in the house with them but watching them climb over the sleeping bodies in Lamont Park ain't okay with you. Or if you have a business client or old friend you'd like to meet for coffee...good coffee. (I was kicked out of Hellers mid-afternoon, in the middle of a business meeting, by an employee impatiently tapping her foot while holding open the front door. WTF??) Or your roommates have friends over and you just want some quiet time. I used to inhabit any one of the coffeehouses in my old neighborhood to do paperwork so my apartment could remain a work-free zone.

Fully aware that I will open up a can of worms with this statement, I'll say it anyway: There is currently no place on MtP Street that meets the needs of the growing portion of the surrounding community that would and perhaps could support it.

Of course the widely known hostile environment isn't the only determining factor causing entrepreneurs to go elsewhere. Few business decisions are made on a sole variable. But it's definitely an important one because it's a stark reality in MtP, as are rent and build-out costs. Combined, the big picture is that MtP is currently not a wise area to invest in. And that's the bottom line.

[DCCharles]

[Mrs. B]

Anyone have (or any idea how to obtain) good data on the number of stay at home parents and part time or full time work at home residents?

[kelly5612]

[Mrs. B]

Maybe a tech savvy person could set up a poll here to get an idea of what's going on at least as far as forum readers are concerned? Certainly, as has been discussed on other threads, this is self-selecting blah blah blah, but might be interesting nevertheless?
I know I see a lot of references to home offices in many real estate ads.

[new2dc]

I just saw this discussion--I think it would be fantastic if a business like you're describing could come to be on Mt. P Street. As someone who works at home part time, I would definitely appreciate being able to run down the street to grab a coffee or meet a client or just take a break. Many people I know in the neighborhood either work at home full time or part time as well. I know nothing about what it takes to keep that kind of business going but it sounds like a great idea to me!

Just a thought--what about a specialty food section? We don't have anything like that in Mt. P and sometimes it's nice to be able to run out and get some fancy cheese or crackers other than Ritz or nice olives for a party. Maybe there wouldn't be a demand for this but it could be interesting. A little shop just opened up in Bloomingdale on RI Ave and about 3rd Street NW--they sell specialty foods. wine, and I think there's a deli counter. It's doing really well and the neighborhood seems to have embraced it. Maybe something like that could do well in Mt. P?

Just a thought...I say, go for it!

[Jennrgolden]

[pdmarquardt]