Trouble Brewing at Kraken Axes
Kraken Axes is located in the former Murray’s at 3400 Georgia Avenue.
Kraken Axes hasn’t even gotten into full swing and it appears that trouble is already brewing. Kraken Axes opened in mid-December 2017 and is centered on the the sport of axe throwing in which the competitors throw an axe at a target, attempting to hit the bulls eye as near as possible, much like darts, but with axes.
In April, Kraken applied for a license to serve alcohol, both inside the establishment and on the parking lot, which they explained would be reconfigured as a Summer Garden. This drew a lot of concern from nearby neighbors leading to a negotiated Settlement Agreement with ANC1A which the Commission approved in May and the ABRA Board approved in June 2018.
Unknown to the ANC or community at the time of negotiation, ABRA was investigating Kraken Axes following ecomplaints they had received, leading to a hearing on June 27th before the ABRA Board (transcript here). The ABRA Board issued an ORDER REQUIRING APPLICANT TO DEMONSTRATE FITNESS FOR LICENSURE UNDER§ 25-301 AND ORDER on August 1, 2018, as a result of June hearing (full order here). In that order, Kraken Axes and D.C. Field House (both operated by the same owners), are directed to appear before the ABRA Board to demonstrate their qualifications for licensure. The hearing is scheduled for August 15, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. at ABRA in the Reeves Building.
A review of the ABC Board order states that “The Board seeks the DENIAL of the applications filed by Kraken and D.C. Field House based on 23 DCMR § 401.1, and the Board’s determination that the Applicant, Anna Veloro, is unfit for licensure under D.C. Official Code§ 25-301(a)(l).”
The order lists the following three counts for their action with supporting information listed in their Order:
COUNT I: Denial of the application filed by Kraken Axes is warranted where the Applicant allowed, permitted, or engaged in various violations of the law that merit denial of the application under 23 DCMR § 401.1.
COUNT II: Denial of the application filed by D.C. Field House is warranted where the Applicant allowed, permitted, or engaged in various violations of the law that merit denial of the application under 23 DCMR § 401.1.
COUNT III: The Board may deem the Applicant unfit for licensure pursuant to D.C. Official Code§§ 25-301(a)(l) and 25-301(a-1) based on the Applicant’s conduct, or if any of the violations identified above are sustained.
The findings of fact are serious, indeed, and this is a case of great concern to ANC1A and the community. We’ll need to see the outcome of the August hearing to determine what, if any, next steps need to be taken.
Explore posts in the same categories: ABRA, Development, Small BusinessesTags: businesses, Georgia Avenue corridor, Park View
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Park View, D.C. 
August 3, 2018 at 12:05 pm
This “unfit for licensure based on applicant’s [owner Donald Trump]conduct” clause is being presented as legal basis to revoke Trump Hotel’s liquor license – good approach in that case.
As far as Kraken, why is the conduct [law violations] not part of the document?
August 3, 2018 at 2:28 pm
It is, the article summarized the Counts, you have to click the Order link to see the details on the conduct which brought the counts. Near the end.
August 6, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Wow. Thank you for directing me to open the link.
August 6, 2018 at 1:16 pm
If they were altering permits as the ABRA complaint says, I’d imagine it will be very difficult to get a license. Bummer – was looking forward to trying them when they reopened. But an alcohol license is not something to tamper with.
September 28, 2018 at 7:01 am
[…] August 3rd I shared that Kraken Axes had gotten into trouble as part of an ABRA investigation, which resulted in investigators recommending denial of issuing […]