Champions Sports Bar and Restaurant has closed due to problems with both underage drinking and finances, according to Peter Pulsifer, chairman of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E and co-chair of the ANC’s Alcohol and Beverage Committee.
The D.C. Alcohol and Beverage Commission forced Champions to close for 15 days and pay a fine of $25,000. Champions management paid $10,000 of the fine and the remaining $15,000 payment was suspended because Champions complied with the closure, Pulsifer said.
Following the ABC’s orders, Champions, which is located at 1206 Wisconsin Ave., closed on July 4 and then never reopened.
“It was clear with the suspension that [Champions] needed to change ? The summer is a slow time so the owner took this opportunity to think about where he wanted to go,” Pulsifer said.
Champions has experienced conflicts with neighbors since the ANC protested its license renewal in January 2001.
“Champions is the poster child of underage drinking at Georgetown,”said ANC Commissioner Bill Starrels.
Champions’ manager Lewis Earle is now discussing a renovation of Champions with the management of Third Edition, another local bar at 1218 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., according to Pulsifer. He said the renovation could possibly convert Champions into a fine dining restaurant with dancing.
The manager of Third Edition, Jonathan Umbel, said he could not comment on the renovation at this time.
by Lizzy Levin
