Intervention by Bar Operator's Mother Fails to Prevent ANC2B from Protesting Extended Operating Hours

At its regularly-scheduled meeting on February 11, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle voted to protest the application of the owners of Parlay (1827 M Street NW) to extend their hours of alcoholic beverage sales and live entertainment. All the Commissioners present voted in favor of the protest.

Parlay now in the former Malaysia Kopitam space

Currently, Parlay is allowed to service alcohol and live entertainment until 10pm Sunday through Thursday and 11pm on Friday and Saturday. The establishment seeks permission to serve alcohol until 2am Sunday through Thursday and 2:45am Friday and Saturday, and to have live entertainment until 2am Sunday through Thursday and 2:30am Friday and Saturday.

The space was formerly occupied by the restaurant Malaysia Kopitam, but the new establishment has a "much bigger bar aspect".

The ANC asked the proprietor what sort of live entertainment he was planning. He said he had "no specific plans -- just thought the restaurant would ask".

There was some confused talk about what hours the old Malaysia Kopitam had on its license when it closed and the license was purchased, compared to what hours the same liquor license bore when it was re-issued to Parlay. The bar owner and the ANC had been discussing this issue for a few minutes when a woman in the audience stood up and strode past the proprietor standing at a microphone to testify to the ANC. Without being officially recognized by the ANC Chair, the woman stood before the ANC and set it straight on the hours of service attached to the liquor license in the past and now.

"This is my mom," the proprietor said sheepishly.

Noting that there were "trash and noise concerns generally", the ANC expressed a wish for a "clear and strong settlement agreement". The motion to protest included a provision that the protest would be dropped if a settlement agreement was signed.

Malaysia Kopitam did not have a settlement agreement with ANC2B.

According to information on the website of DC's Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA), a preliminary hearing on Parlay's request for longer operating hours will take place on March 23 at 10am at ABRA's offices at the Reeves Center (14th and U Streets).

(photo credit: August 2011 image from Google Street View)