Despite the protests of commissioners in Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3D, Bon Appétit’s renewed liquor license now covers the entire AU campus.
Bon Appétit must renew its liquor license with the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration every three years, and the previous license only allowed the food service company to serve alcohol in seven buildings on campus:
• the Mary Graydon Center • the School of International Service building (now the East Quad Building) • the Ward Circle building • the Kay Spiritual Center • the Katzen Arts Center • the Kogod School of Business building • the Batelle/Thompkins building
This June, when Bon Appétit petitioned ABRA to renew its license and extend it to include all AU campus buildings, ANC 3D formally complained to the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration to object the type of license Bon Appétit had.
ANC Commissioners Stuart Ross, ANC District 3D 04, and Tom Smith, ANC District 3D 02, whose single member district encompasses AU, filed formal letters of appeal with ABRA, saying Bon Appétit should have a catering license rather than a restaurant one.
“The concern was that Bon Appétit had the wrong license,” Smith said.
Smith’s letter also said there have been reports of “excessive noise and traffic at campus-related functions where alcoholic beverages have been served,” but Penny Pagano, director of Community and Local Government Relations, said she has never heard of any problems.
The ANC’s complaints were originally dismissed because it failed to send representatives to a hearing. The complaints were reinstated, however, because of previous paperwork errors.
But on Sept. 15, the ABC Board dismissed the ANC complaints again, saying they did not file their protests on the appropriate grounds.
According to the agency’s regulations, complaints must discuss how the license affects:
• peace, order and quiet • “real property values” • “residential parking needs and vehicular and pedestrian safety” • “schools, recreation centers, daycare centers and public libraries” • ability to attract school-age children before, during and after school • creation of an “over concentration of license establishments”
Pagano said the majority of the special events are small and short. They are typically retirement celebrations, end-of-the-year parties and art gallery or exhibit openings.
Pagano and Bon Appétit Vice President Maisie Greenawalt said there were never any issues with past renewals.
“Perhaps things are more sensitive when we have a Campus Plan,” Pagano said.
In a July 20 letter to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which oversees ABRA, Bon Appétit attorney Jerry Moore III said the University’s liquor license should expand with the University.
“A recurring need arises for special events to be held in the venue that is associated with a particular University activity,” Moore wrote in the letter. “For example, it is unlikely and impractical for a Washington School of Law special event to be held at the University’s School of Business.”
AU can also rent out university space to outside groups — the Kay Spiritual Life Center can be rented out for a wedding — and those groups can apply for a one-day liquor license, according to Pagano.
The license is a Class D restaurant license, the same as it was in 2006, and allows Bon Appétit to serve beer and wine to 99 people or fewer at a time for a $600 fee. A catering license could cost the company anywhere between $500 and $5,000 because it is based on the caterer’s gross annual revenue.
ABRA regulations also stipulate that food or snacks and non-alcoholic beverages must be available at events where alcohol is served.
AU’s Alcohol Policy has stricter guidelines than the ABRA ones, including the prohibition of alcohol in University residence halls, Bender Arena and at open-air events.
Moore’s letter said alcoholic beverage sales have accounted for less than 3 percent of Bon Appétit ’s total food and beverage sales from 2006 to now.
Recently, after its formal petition to ABRA, the ANC approached ABRA to informally ask Bon Appétit to change their license to a different Class D type — a DX multi-purpose / public hall facility license, which has a $650 fee.
ABRA Community Resource Officer Cynthia Simms said this change would be voluntary, and Bon Appétit has the right to keep their current license. So far, Bon Appétit has not filed to make any changes.
“From our perspective, it has been settled,” Greenawalt said.
sdazio@theeagleonline.com
