The Board of License Commissioners has revoked the liquor license of the Congress Restaurant and Lounge, located at 6834 New Hampshire Ave. in Takoma Park.
The action came following an April 11 hearing that was summarized as Resolution 19-124.
The resolution was adopted on May 2 and detailed in a letter dated the same day to licensees Nde Aloh of Bowie and his mother, Rosalinde Attey of Takoma Park, informing them of the revocation.
The licensees admitted to violating several regulations related to the dispensing of liquor at the restaurant, including serving customers after hours, but denied a charge of “acts contrary to law” related to a June 1, 2018 stabbing during a fight the victim said occurred at the location. (Aloh denied any knowledge of the incident.)
The restaurant had previously been charged with nine different violations dating back to 2010, for which the owners paid fines ranging from $100 to $2,500 and ordered eight times to take the Department of Liquor Control’s ALERT class for alcohol regulation education and training.
During the hearing, commissioner heard witnesses from the department and the Takoma Park police testifying to the nature of the charges.
In addition, police witnesses spoke of numerous visits to the restaurant over the years in response to complaints including crowd noise and public intoxication.
For example, Corp. Jessica Garrison testified that during her six years on the force, she had come to know the restaurant as “a worrisome place, so she checks it every night,” according to the resolution. Lt. Richard Cipperly testified that the department had responded to several stabbing incidents at the lounge, among other problems.
The commissioners found the licensees guilty on all seven charges and ordered the license revocation. The licensees can appeal the decision to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.