This post was written by Hatchet Staff Writer Amy D’onofrio.
The Advisory Neighborhood Commission serving Foggy Bottom and West End voted unanimously Thursday to give Marshall’s Bar and Grille and Shadow Room nightclub waivers from their voluntary agreements, allowing them to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21.
A motion made by Commissioner Armando Irizarry (2A04) to extend McFadden’s hours from the usual 2 a.m. close to 3 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Tuesday was not seconded, so no vote took place.
ANC 2A Chairman Asher Corson announced at the start of the meeting that the GW Inn, the fourth establishment on the agenda, had withdrawn its application for an extension. Corson said he had no idea why the Inn, which has the Italian restaurant Notti Bianche, had done so.
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration Interim Director Fred Moosally was in attendance and letters allowing the establishments to extend their hours were given to him by the ANC.
Representatives from the three establishments considered by the ANC all spoke at the meeting.
The owner of Marshall’s, Tarek Moukalled, told the Commission he would keep the restaurant’s kitchen open late with extended hours, and Moosally clarified for the Commission that establishments staying open until 4 a.m. have to serve food until at least 2 a.m. After a few positive comments from commissioners about Marshall’s, the vote was made giving it permission to extend its hours.
Swaptak Das, the owner of Shadow Room nightclub, told the Commission that he wanted to extend hours each night from Friday to Tuesday, with an event closed to the public on Monday night for a nonprofit organization. He said Sunday night that a number of big-name celebrities were confirmed to be in attendance.
Irizarry said strong opposition to Shadow Room extending its hours came from Commissioner Florence Harmon, who could not be in attendance at the meeting. Irizarry said there was concern about peace and quiet in the neighborhood after patrons leave the club. Das said he did not want to upset Harmon, whose constituents live near Shadow Room.
“We’ve applied for police detail every single night. We don’t expect a rowdy crowd due to our price points,” Das said.
Corson said it was very unique to have an establishment like Shadow Room open to negotiation with the ANC, and he made the motion for the extension of Shadow Room’s hours.
McFadden’s General Manager Jason Lawrence told the Commission that the restaurant and bar wanted to gain as much positive exposure as possible in an extension of its hours.
Commissioner Rebecca Coder (2A02) voiced her concern about past behavior from the establishment and that McFadden’s Web site promoted an inauguration kick-off party called “Inaugural Insanity.”
Lawrence has been the general manager of McFadden’s since August and said his priority is to add tastefulness to the restaurant, trying to attract a 25 and older crowd rather than just 21 to 23-year-olds.
He brought a letter of recommendation from George James, who he said was the owner of 2400 Pennsylvania Ave., a building across the street from McFadden’s. Lawrence read the letter giving the restaurant permission from James to stay open until 3 a.m. The original letter was submitted to ABRA with McFadden’s application.
Lawrence declined to comment immediately after the meeting.
