February 9, 2021 at 10:30am
A former Columbia Pike business has inspired a state bill that would allow localities greater say over liquor licenses.
HB 2131 was introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates last month by Del. Alfonso Lopez, who represents Arlington including portions of the Pike in the 49th District.
It has since passed the House unanimously and is now in the Virginia State Senate.
The bill is a response to a number of incidents, including multiple shootings, that took place in 2020 at the nightlife venue Purple Ethiopian Restaurant & Lounge at 3111 Columbia Pike.
Despite “a series of disturbing events” and much to the chagrin of the Arlington County Board, the venue was given its liquor license back by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority in September.
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Last Thursday, a friend texted me to tell me that the Standard in Hollywood was permanently shuttering after 22 years on the Sunset Strip. Like most of my friends and enemies, he knew that I carried a torch for this particular hotel.
It was the original boutique hotel. The logo on the outside of the building was upside down. The keycards said, âSlip it in.â The valets wore â90s alternative-rock-style work shirts; they were friendly and a little bit too good-looking. You could relax on the beige Ligne Roset Togo sofa in the lobby while a DJ spun tasteful electronic music and a scantily clad out-of-work actor lazily read a script in the âthe Boxâ behind the front desk. You could eat adequate diner food 24 hours a day; you could float on a pink tube in the tiny pool; you could play ping-pong on blue Astroturf; you could hear the traffic on Sunset at all hours if you got the wrong room; you coul
David McNew/Getty Images
The hotel, located on the Sunset Strip, announced Thursday that it is scheduled to close Friday, more than 22 years after opening.
Time to say goodbye to The Standard Hotel.
The Sunset Strip standout announced today that it will be closing its doors permanently on Friday. Despite 22 years of unconditional love for our hotel, our guests, our team and our community, the hotel was unable to prevent a significant increase to its lease, which makes operating the property impossible, read a post on Instagram. Alive with personality & personalities, and the backdrop of countless legendary tales, Hollywood was the birthplace of The Standard’s culture. It came to life through its timeless design, live music performances at Desert Nights, blue Astroturf pool scene, living art in The Box, and the many late, hazy nights at our nightclub incarnations: Purple Lounge, Mmhmmm and Giorgio’s.
End of an era: Hotel tycoon Andre Balazs Hollywood hotspot The Standard CLOSES after 22 years of hosting A-list parties, TV shows, and celebrity guests including Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, and investor Leo DiCaprio
The Standard in West Hollywood, which was opened by Balazs in 1999, announced that it is closing today
Standard International hotel group blames a significant increase to its lease, which makes operating the property impossible , particularly amid the financial stress of the coronavirus pandemic
The Standard has spun off other locations in New York City, London, and Miami, and its parent company also owns the Chateau Marmont in LA and Chiltern Firehouse in London