For the first time in five years, the District of Columbia will begin issuing in new liquor licenses to restaurants in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of the city. Until now, there had been a moratorium on the issuance of new such licenses, leaving aspiring restaurateurs with no choice but to identify a party willing to transfer an existing license, often at considerable expense. The moratorium was renewed for an additional three years for taverns and other facilities, and nightclub licenses will continue to be barred in the area.
The Adams Morgan Moratorium Zone is one of five such moratorium zones in the District, with the others being Georgetown, Glover Park, East Dupont, and West Dupont.
The press release announcing the change can be found here, while the rulemaking notice, which sets for the reasoning of the Board and the parties’ respective arguments, can be found here.