What happened at the Liquor Board on August 15, 2013

The licensee testified that the wine store will be 3,000 square feet and will include a bar; the store will sell wine at different price points. Its hours of operation will be 10am to 10pm. The store will have six employees; Ms. Coyle will hire from the community if possible.

The store has cost $800,000 to open; Ms. Coyle has invested $300,000 of her own assets and secured $500,000 in financing from PNC.

In the application, Ms. Coyle said that she would be managing the store herself; however, in the hearing, Ms. Coyle said that she was in the process of hiring a manager for the store with five years’ experience, but she will be present at the store three or four days per week. The target opening date for the store is January 1.

The application states that Ms. Coyle shares a 50% ownership of the wine store with R & F Operation LLC, 1453 Patapsco Street. SDAT does not have a record of R & F Operation, LLC, and the application does not explain the specifics of the shared 50% ownership. The other 50% of the business, according to the application, is owned by MCS Canton Crossing Wine & Spirits, LLC; this LLC is in good standing according to SDAT.

The applicant testified that Holy Frijoles has been in business for seventeen years with no problems from the community or law enforcement. Holy Frijoles already has been licensed to serve beer, wine and liquor six out of seven days of the week; this application is for an additional/seventh day to serve alcohol.

The applicant stated that the live entertainment applied for would be “pretty light” since there is not a lot of space dedicated to music.

The file did not have SDAT information for the three citizen character witnesses/signatories, who are required to be Baltimore City property owners. Chairman Fogleman noted this lack in the file and stated that the Liquor Board staff would look the witnesses up on SDAT before the Board issues the license.

The attorney stated that the two applicants had contacted two neighborhood associations, including the Development Corporation of Northwest Baltimore. One neighborhood association did not reply to the attorney or applicants; the other one did not choose to oppose the liquor store. The attorney stated that these two attempts at outreach to the community were sufficient due diligence.

Mr. Min stated that he owns another liquor store in Prince George’s County and that there had been two open container violations in the past six years. Mr. Min testified that the employees responsible had been terminated and that the alcohol purchasers had taken responsibility for both infractions. Chairman Fogleman noted that the Baltimore City Liquor Board takes infractions very seriously and warned the applicants to be diligent.

The application did not include the name, address, and phone number of the owner of the building. Mr. Min stated that he owns the building with his wife and provided as an exhibit a copy of the deed of property transfer to Mr. Min and his wife. Chairman Fogleman told Mr. Min that he should amend his application to reflect that ownership.

In the application for this license, Mr. Henry checked “yes” after the question “Have you been found guilty of an offence against the laws of the United States?” but left the blank the space provided for details of the offense. The liquor commissioners did not ask about this omission in the hearing.

The applicants presented a Memorandum of Understanding which the business had negotiated with the Canton Community Association. The agreement says that Shiso Tavern may have live entertainment Wednesday through Sunday, up to a two-piece combo, acoustic guitar, and/or karaoke. For occasional special events or private parties, Shiso Tavern can have a three-piece band. The restaurant must keep the sound in check and the doors and windows shut. No flyers or handbills. On Friday and Saturday nights, the entertainment can go until 12am; on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights, the entertainment must end at 11pm.