Nellie’s expands hours for World Cup

Nellie’s Sport Bar last week became D.C.’s only gay bar to seek and receive permission to extend its hours so customers can watch early morning soccer games during the month-long World Cup international soccer tournament in South Africa.

According to information released Friday by the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, Nellie’s is one of 74 D.C. liquor-serving establishments to seek and receive a special waiver to allow them to operate starting at 7 a.m. between June 11 and July 11.

Under the World Cup Extension of Hours Emergency Act of 2010, which the D.C. City Council passed June 1, Nellie’s and the other establishments may open at 7 a.m. and serve alcoholic beverages beginning at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday, and beginning at 10 a.m. Sundays during the exemption period.

Gay D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) introduced the emergency legislation to allow the expanded hours.

Nellie’s manager David Chung said starting this week and continuing through June 21, the bar and restaurant is opening at 7:30 a.m. Starting June 22, Nellie’s will open at 10 a.m. for the remainder of the Word Cup games, which begin later in the morning.

He said the bar will show live broadcasts of the games on several of its video screens. Chung noted that members of D.C.’s Federal Triangle’s gay soccer club will be among the people watching the games at Nellie’s.