Zoning Approval Paves Way for Call Your Mother Georgetown Location

• January 15th 2020

by Nena Perry-Brown

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News broke about a potential Georgetown location for the line-compelling DC bagel shop Call Your Mother more than six months ago, and the ensuing road to approval for the new location has been an uphill one.

However, the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) approved the necessary area variance on Wednesday to allow a prepared food shop at 3428 O Street NW (map), the address for the new location, essentially paving the way for the store to open its doors. 

The bagel shop, which has its original location in Park View, has been a contentious issue among neighbors, stakeholders and businesses over the five-plus months since the zoning application was filed, with even Councilmember Jack Evans going on the record in opposition. A neighbor in Georgetown presented a case against granting the variance, questioning whether the prepared food shop counts as a by-right corner store use and whether Call Your Mother's presence would undermine the viability of nearby businesses on the Wisconsin Avenue commercial corridor. The boardmembers and the Office of Planning representative deemed these and other related matters to be outside of the scope of the case or their purview.

Stipulations to today's zoning approval include that the new Call Your Mother location will not have outdoor music or seating nor will it be allowed to use UberEats, Caviar, or other similar on-demand delivery services. No word on when the store will open for business. 

Clarification: The article previously referred to Councilmember Jack Evans's role in the past tense; he will be a sitting councilmember until Friday.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/zoning-board-approval-paves-way-for-call-your-mother-georgetown-location/16339.