October 9, 2003

Re: Application No. 9841

Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration
941 North Capitol St. NE, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20002

Dear Friends:

ANC3D, with a quorum present , voted at its October 1 meeting to support the issuance of a “C” license to Ilija’s International Gourmet Shoppe (T/A Ilija’s International) at 5441 MacArthur Boulevard, subject to a restriction on the hours it would be permitted to serve alcoholic beverages. The permissible hours would be from 11 a.m. to 11p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and from 11a.m. until midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The restrictions reflected a view within the commission that while it favored the introduction of new restaurants on MacArthur Boulevard, it was fearful that the authorization of establishments serving liquor into the early morning hours would begin to change the quiet, residential nature of the Palisades neighborhood.

The restricted hours of service were agreed to in a “voluntary agreement,” signed by the owner of the Ilija’s Restaurant Restaurant and the chair of ANC3D. In addition to the hours specified above, the agreement specifies that in event Ilija’s sells the liquor license, the restrictions on the hours of service of alcohol “shall travel with the license and apply to the new owner until such time as the new owner may apply for and be granted a new license subject to prior review by ANC3D.”

A copy of the “voluntary agreement", signed by both parties, is enclosed for your consideration and for your records.

We hope that the views of ANC3D in this case will be accorded the “great weight” specified under D.C. law (1-309.10).

Sincerely yours,


John W. Finney
Chair, ANC3D