A couple wants to buy and refurish the space just off Greenmount where the Antique Attic is at in order to open a "quality" seafood restaurant. But, they say, in order to make it economically feasible, they must have a liquor license. One problem: they have arraned for a BD-7 license, which allows them not only to serve wine and beer with food but to operate a package goods operation 7 days a week, from 6am-2am.
When residents objected, they said oh, we really are only interestd in the restaurant business, but it won't work without that liquor license. Who's fooling who here?
Buz says: Ain't nobody going to come for really good food in the evening there unless you're in a spot that is not only safe, but feels safe. This isn't Alonso's! The people that buy package goods in that area contain a lot of drunks, panhandlers, litterers, loiteres and other assorted bad people. Many of fthe current residents in Abell community remember only too well whata happened when the Phaze III nightclub was on 32nd Street. It took an employee to get killed before the liquor board would do anything. Many of the current establishements have customers which litter, urinate and cause "confusion" in the evening. Thus, people who want to have a nice meal aare not going toj go there after a while. On the flip side, once the restaurant fails, the owners will now go full bore with their bar/package business--seven days a week if they want to. This is a common ruse used throughout the city to get in.
Remember, people, once a place gets that license, it is almost impossible, and takes a great deal of time and effort, to get them out. The liquor board has long shown itself to place the interests of the industry and the licensees ahead of communities: they take administrative law, and use it as though the standard is the death penalty. Sorry, no hearsay! Did you call the police!? When!? Dijd you make note of the time and date you saw that happened. Why didn't you call the police!?
Oh, you just don' t like bars, huh!?
Buz would ask: did your inspectors check anything out in response to these complaints?
The liquor board'sown staff, with some exceptions, are not aggressive, and have no real authority without police. The only reason the Cameo Lounge had its license revoked on Harford Road was that the manager told police officers to get off the property when they were responding to calls at 3am. Not a good move, mr. manager. Wonder whrere he's employed now.
Buz reminds his readers that the Blockbuster store which opened next to the new Giant closed shortly after the manager was shot and killed during a robbery attempt. It has never reopened. The last time I went by there it was still vacant.
Best of luck to the Abell community. Wonder how that new restaurant down the street on Greenmount is doing,
Sunday, January 20, 2008
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