Photo by rjs 1322
After an unfortunate incident at The Reef—wherein a security guard got into a scuffle with two patrons and allegedly got a little stabby—shut the place down, the 18th Street NW spot will be back open for business tonight.
The bar was shut down indefinitely last week, pending a hearing with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board over proposed changes in security and protocol to ensure an incident like this doesn’t happen again. After the initial hearing, ABRA stated that in order to open back up, The Reef would have to make several changes to its business and provide “a detailed security plan that includes plans for a number of security cameras, and procedures for preventing and handling incidents like this in the future.”
Only after The Reef made these changes and submitted a updated detailed security plan could the popular Adams Morgan bar reopen. It looks like ABRA is content with their new security plan. According to the ABRA ruling, “the Board approved the attached Offer in Compromise,” and The Reef will reopen tonight at 5 p.m.
“C’mon by and have some food and drinks! We’ve missed you all so much!” The Reef said in a Facebook post. “Thank you again for all the love and support! You have all been a part of us thus far, and we look forward to continuing with you. See you tomorrow! Cheers!”
However, not everyone is happy about this. In a press release from Rowe, Weinstein & Sohn, PLLC—the firm representing victims David Hudson, 29, and his brother Dean Harris, 23—the penalties The Reef faced from ABRA weren’t enough. “We are disappointed that the District of Columbia has reached an agreement which will allow The Reef to re-open with just a slap on the wrist less than two weeks after their own employee allegedly assaulted customers with a deadly weapon,” attorney Joshua S. Berman said.
According to the press release, the security guard involved in the incident was “allegedly on parole for armed robbery, and had been drinking on the job the night of the incident.” The ABRA report also claims that The Reef’s owner did not conduct a background check on the guard, and that “all surveillance cameras had been completely disconnected and shut off from recording any events at the time of this incident.” Furthermore, the knife allegedly used in the attack is still missing.
In an email to DCist, Berman says that his “clients are exploring all potential legal remedies at this time and have not ruled out a civil suit at this juncture.”
