Uptown Market, the market and restaurant planning an August opening in Park Van Ness, is in the process of negotiating a voluntary agreement with ANC 3F to sell and serve alcoholic beverages in its store, bar and café areas.
It is standard procedure for eating establishments that sell alcohol to work out an agreement with the local ANC. This agreement must pass as a resolution of ANC 3F. It is then sent to Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration. Hours of operation, outside noise mitigation and litter control are among the enforceable items in such an agreement.
If you’ve stopped to check out the placards posted at the Uptown Market site (4465 Connecticut Avenue), you’ll notice that the application for the Class C (restaurant) license covers the hours between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. most days, and up to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. And, the Class B license (retailer) would allow for sales of beer and wine for home consumption between 7 a.m. and midnight.
Uptown Market does not actually plan to keep those hours. In its presentation at the June 18th ANC meeting, Uptown Market said the voluntary agreement it is requesting from local officials will be for the following operating hours:
Store:
- Monday-Friday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Saturday & Sunday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Café:
- Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday: 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
- Sunday: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Uptown Market says it doesn’t want a rowdy, late-night bar crowd. It wants to be a social hub for families, students and workers. Its ANC presentation describes the place as a “homey environment – almost an extension of your living room,” with free wifi and a lounge area where people can “work away from work.” In addition, café and bar inside will seat 60, and the sidewalk café will accommodate 40 customers.
Uptown Market will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. “We also are going to be focusing on a farm to table program for our dining concept,” said Adam Leichtner, managing partner of Uptown Market, at the ANC meeting. And as it has said in the past, Uptown Market’s services will include catering, grab-and-go dinner items, a butcher, fishmonger, delicatessen, and coffee shop.
