As usual, things are constantly changing, upgrading and switching hands in the always exciting South Baltimore bar and liquor industry. I’ve seen a lot of the notices around town, so let’s take a look at the upcoming hearings.
Ole Federal Hill Liquors Looking to Move…Not Far
CLASS “A” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Elizabeth M, Inc. Transfer of location from 1238 -42 1230-32 Light Street
Thomas Min Light Street
Elizabeth Min
Yong Bok Lee
Interesting week for area liquor stores as two of the biggest locations will come up in this article. It appears that Ole Federal Hill Liquors is attempting to move their large liquor store from 1238-43 Light St. to the old Bay Vanguard Federal Saving Bank location at1230-32. Bay Vanguard is now at The Foundry on Fort Ave. The new location is not as wide as the current spot, but does have a 2nd and 3rd floor as their current location is just one story. Hopefully they can still keep their large inventory. I spoke with the owner and he said that, if approved, a move probably would not happen until the end of the year.
Centro/Bicycle License Tranfer
CLASS “D” BEER & WINE LICENSE
Iberico, LLC Transfer of ownership, add off-premises 1444 Light Street
Germania Benalcazar catering
Kevin Perry
Cecilia Benalcazar
JBL Real Estate is very excited about a new group that will be occupying the restaurant space filled by the Bicycle for so many years and most recently Centro. It appears the new restaurant has a current name of Iberico and is looking to also cater off the premises. Doing a quick Google search, I discovered that Iberico is a Spanish cured ham and is also the name for a Spanish tapas restaurant in Chicago and Sydney, Australia. Looking forward to hearing more about it! Certainly an active time for the southern end of the peninsula as Hersh’s and Home Slyce are new to the area, a new brewpub is in the works on Charles St. and Leon’s is currently out of business.
Update: Spoke with a friend who spent his honeymoon in Spain and he told me that Iberico Ham is incredibly good!
The Hill, Nobles Apply for Live Entertainment
CLASS BD7, BEER, WINE & LIQUOR TAVERN LICENSE
1015 Charles, LLC Request to add live 1015-19 S. Charles Street
Antoine Pettaway entertainment
Clark Hudak, Jr.
This specific transfer notice is for The Hill, but I also noticed a live entertainment license on Nobles for May, as well as many other Federal Hill bars in the last couple of months. Whether any of these locations actually want live entertainment, now is the time to get it approved so that the liquor license has a greater value. This topic created quite the stir at an SBNA meeting until a resident replied that live music isn’t necessarily a bad thing and could add some art to the neighborhood.
Whatever is approved, all of these properties are still required to meet the sound decibal code of the neighborhood.
The Cellars Under Protest
Thursday, 5:00 p.m. Mark Sapperstein, McHenry Row Beer & Wine, LLC T/a The Cellars, 1800 Whetstone Way – Class “D” Beer & Wine license – Protest of Renewal under Article 2B §10-301(a) by ten or more residents, commercial tenants who are not holders or applicant for any license issued under Article 2B, or real estate owners in the immediate vicinity of the licensed premises d that live entertainment could bring some art and culture to the neighborhood.
Baltimore Business Journal is reporting that a group from Area 33 is protesting the license renewal of The Cellars, a beer and wine store attached to Harris Teeter. Per the article:
The organization says the liquor store The Cellars, which is directly adjacent to the 62,000-square-foot shopping center, violates the state law which “prohibits chain stores from holding alcoholic beverage licenses,” according to documents filed with the liquor board. The Cellars is connected to Harris Teeter from the interior and is advertised inside the grocery store.
Sapperstein said, is more about area retailers looking out for themselves than any potential violation of state law.
McHenry Row Developer Mark Sapperstein insists that he owns the liquor store and pays a management fee to Harris Teeter.
On a personal note, I would be very disappointed if The Cellars lost their license. As someone who works strange hours and sometimes doesn’t have any time off until Sunday evening, it is great to have a place open Sundays and long hours every day of the week. It is also the first place we have where you can pick up beer or wine and know you will find a parking spot. It is hard to get home late, park and then walk all the way to the liquor store. Whether The Cellars is your favorite place or not, it is a value-added resource for this community, especially so people don’t just drive five minutes to Anne Arundel County.
