Café 8 Will Likely Reopen – Conditionally
by Larry Janezich
Posted October 20, 2026
In the days or weeks ahead, it seems likely that the Alcohol Beverage Control Board will allow Café 8 to reopen with a new set of conditions attached to their liquor license.
MPD ordered the summary 96 hour closure of Café 8 on Barracks Row at 7:00pm Monday night in accordance with the finding by the Chief of Police that continued operation would present an imminent danger to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Under DC Code, Café 8 can appeal the closure and request a hearing before the Board. The Board could receive and act on the request at its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, October 21 and then set a time and date for the appeal hearing.
Wednesday’s 10:30am meeting will be virtual and a link to live coverage is here: https://www.youtube.com/live/v5eMj0wyvlU (Likewise, the administrate adjudication hearing will also be virtual at a time and date TBA)
After hearing the evidence in the future proceeding, the Board will decide Café 8’s fate. There are three options:
- Lift the closure if Café 8 is found to have already addressed the reasons for closure.
- Allow Café 8 to reopen with additional operating conditions.
- Continue the closure and schedule a show cause hearing (is a formal legal administrative hearing) where Café 8 will have to show why they should be allowed to reopen. (This too could result in a conditional reopening – or in a suspension of the liquor license)
Tuesday night, ANC6B Chair Sam Pastore and the ABC6B’s ABC Committee chair Karen Hughes, called for an emergency meeting of the Commission at 6:30pm that evening. The purpose of the meeting was to vote on a letter to the ABC Board, ahead of their regular Wednesday meeting, to ensure that the ANC has a voice in the anticipated consideration of the review of the summary closing of Café 8.
The letter states that “ANC6B supports the emergency 96-hour closure imposed by the Metropolitan Police Department on Oct. 19 and requests that the Board use its investigatory and regulatory powers to work proactively with Café 8 to determine appropriate additional security measures necessary to protect public safety, peace, order, and quiet.”
The letter acknowledged the numerous complaints from neighbors about late night/early morning disruptions on nearby streets the letter and cited the need for the ABC Board to require stronger operational safeguards…but notes that “…ANC 6B is not requesting revocation of Café 8’s license. It urgently requests, however, that the Board consider the following conditions before Café 8 resumes regular late-night operations.”
(To that end, the letter suggest conditions which reflect conversations between ANC6B Commissioner Brian Gorman (who represents the district in which Café 8 lies) and the restaurant’s management.)
- Full documented compliance with all existing security obligations contained in the ANC 6B settlement agreement.
- The addition of visible cameras on Café 8’s exterior.
- A written and enforced banned-patron policy covering individuals involved in violence, threats, firearms offenses, drug activity, fights, or repeated disorderly conduct associated with the establishment.
- Clear signage advising patrons that off-premises violence and neighborhood disorder may result in exclusion from the establishment.
- A strengthened operational and security plan demonstrating how Café 8 will prevent the recurrence of dangerous conditions associated with its late-night business activity.
- A commitment to working with neighboring late-night restaurants and bars to reduce the chance of incidents on Barracks Row.
- Quarterly reporting to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration as well as ANC 6B that documents security incidents and any mitigation measures undertaken.
The Commission further urged the Board to make clear that continued licensure depends on demonstrated compliance, effective security management, and real accountability for patrons whose conduct endangers residents, visitors, and public servants alike.
The letter passed 6 – 0. A copy will be available on the ANC6B website shortly.
