‘Duffy’s’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

Back in late April when I profiled publican Andy Duffy on the challenges of running your own tavern, we talked about the hope that the hours restrictions would be lifted on Duffy’s in a then-upcoming ABC Board vote. The restrictions have been a real hardship over the past five years since Duffy’s opening, causing him to lose out on providing drinks and nosh to the post-concert crowd, and there’s always been the worry that the limited hours might eventually sink the beloved neighborhood pub.

Worry no more. Word from Duffy is that the ABC Board has voted to terminate the “voluntary” agreement, which means the restrictions will be lifted. That gives Duffy’s the same hours benefit as other popular nightlife options in the area he helped to make popular. As a local resident and an unabashed fan of Duffy and his pub, I’m thrilled. The paperwork still has to go through (UPDATE 6:30pm: Official license has been received and new later hours will start this Sunday 7/10), but this is still great news and a sign that sometimes, being a true gentleman who perseveres does work out in the end.

Congratulations!

UPDATE 2pm: For more details on the actual ABC order, read on after the break.

Fellow drinks writer and Duffy regular Moses has read the order to terminate (and many thanks to him, as I’m not the greatest with legalese!). Here’s his summary of how it goes down:

“The hours restrictions and other operating restrictions are no longer required, as Duffy’s was able to show there is no harm to the neighborhood in relation to: peace, order and quiet, residential parking and vehicular safety, or property values.  Note, any request for outdoor cafe seating would have to go through a separate process.

There are two stipulations: 1) Amplified music cannot be heard inside nearby residences, and 2) No smoking permitted within 8 feet of neighboring property.”

We’ll keep you updated as plans progress. Again, congrats to Duffy’s! A well-deserved Guinness is in order.

Jenn Larsen

As one of the founding editors of We Love DC, Jenn’s passions are theater and cocktails. After two decades in the city, she’s loved every quirky, mundane, elegant, rude minute of her DC life. A proud advocate for DC’s talented drinks scene, she’s judged the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s ARTINI contest, the DC Rickey Month contest, the Jefferson Hotel’s Quill Cocktail competition, and is a founding member of LUPEC DC. A graduate of Catholic University’s drama program, she toured the country as a member of National Players, and has been both an actor and a costume designer before jumping the aisle to theater criticism. Writing for We Love DC restored her happiness after a life-threatening illness, and she’s grateful to you, dear readers. Send your suggestions to jenn (at) welovedc (dot) com and follow her on Twitter.