Dupont Bar Goes Dark After Losing Liquor License

A Dupont Circle bar appears to have shut down after losing its liquor license more than a month ago.

Some Place Else, the bar and restaurant located in the former Townhouse Tavern space at 1637 R St. NW, was locked and dark when a Borderstan reporter visited around happy hour earlier this week. Additionally, phone calls to the bar and restaurant went unanswered when we tried today.

Community members told Borderstan the bar went quiet after District alcohol regulators denied its liquor license renewal application last month.

Despite the apparent closure, it looks as though local regulators have reason to suspect the bar may still be serving alcohol. D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board ordered Some Place Else to “stop selling, serving, or permitting the consumption of alcoholic beverages” earlier this week:

The Respondent is unlawfully operating or attempting to operate with an expired license in violation of Title 25 of the D.C. Official Code. The Respondent’s license has EXPIRED and it will remain expired until the Respondent pays the required renewal fee and the daily fine of $50.00 imposed by the Board for the late payment.

This isn’t the first setback for the business. Health inspectors shut the bar down in June after finding a “heavy infestation of vermin” there.

A representative for Some Place Else wasn’t immediately available to comment on the possible closure. We’ll update this story if we hear back from them.