What happened at the Liquor Board on October 10, 2013.

The applicant later withdrew his application entirely.

Since the Board and Mr. Boozer were waiting for the applicant to appear at the hearing, the Board allowed Ms. Masopust to read the entirety of the MOU into the record.

The decision phase of the hearing was postponed for a week, because the business entity for the establishment (Broadway Group, LLC) was not in good standing with the state of Maryland’s Department of Assessments and Taxation. Postponement of hearings for cases in which the business entity is not in good standing seems to be a brand-new Board policy.

Chairman Fogleman checked the property ownership and voter registration of the character witneses and the good status of the business entity on the application.

The applicant testified that the business was purchased for $190,000.

The total purchase price for the establishment is $300,000. Mr. Newman is a trained chef and will be the full-time operator. The concept is a fast casual barbeque restaurant. The other applicant, Ms. Bruce, will be doing some marketing for the business but will not be spending much time working at the restaurant.

The establishment will be open seven days per week, from 11:00 am to 2:00 am. The license allows live entertainment, which will probably be limited to an occasional DJ and karaoke. The applicants may have bands play at the establishment at some point. The applicants fully understand their obligations to be good neighbors and will try not to disturb the peace of the neighborhood. The applicants don’t plan to have any live entertainment outside.

Chairman Fogleman noted that the applicants’ LLC listed as active and in good standing on the SDAT website and that the character witness signatories were all registered voters and real property owners in Baltimore City.

Chairman Fogleman noted that, according to the Board’s check with the Board of Elections and SDAT property records, the character witness signatures are in order. He added that an internet check of Shree, LLC on SDAT shows that LLC is active and in good standing as of the day before the hearing.

Mary Pat Clarke, City Council member for the 14th district, testified that Red Fish Liquors had been a source of serious problems for the community under the previous owners’ management. She added that she is very hopeful that this transfer to an entirely different set of licensees will be a positive change. She was very pleased with the meetings that the community has had with the new owners, and she is hoping for the best.

Erin Bolton testified on behalf of Medfield Community Association in support of the application. She read the list of voluntary restrictions into the record from the MOU.

Chairman Fogleman thanked the community members and the applicants for negotiating in good faith.

Commissioner Smith asked whether the inventory of the store was going to change under the new ownership. The applicants replied that it would likely stay the same.

Around 8-10 people from the Greektown neighborhood appeared at the hearing in opposition to the transfer of ownership. The Executive Director and Office Manager from Greektown Community Development Corporation testified that the establishment was poorly run, with loitering and petty crime issues. Since the applicant is the current manager of the establishment, the community members testified that they felt the transfer should be denied.

City Councilman Jim Kraft sent in a letter in support of the community associations’ position on the transfer.

Baltimore City Council President Jack Young also sent in a letter expressing support of the Greektown CDC’s position. Mr. Kodenski, the licensee’s attorney, objected because the letter was “late,” signed on October 8.

Father Michael L Pastrikos from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church submitted a letter to the Board as well as a ten-page-long petition against the transfer, with signatures from parishioners and other community members. Father Pastrikos testified that he has seen people overdrinking every single day who loiter outside the building and that when he walks by, there are usually at least ten people outside. The loiterers yell, ask for money, and bother pedestrians.

Other community members echoed these concerns.

Mr. Kim will be the 100% owner of business. He has worked full time as a manager of a liquor store for five years. He is buying the property and is not going to make major changes to it beyond installing some cameras and lights. He has talked with the Ellwood Park Improvement Association president and he plans to meet with the group to discuss any community concerns. The group’s concerns were about live entertainment, but the applicant has withdrawn his request. He currently lives in Baltimore County, but he may move to live in the apartment upstairs from the store.

Mr. Kim’s sister is also an applicant, but she is just the required city resident for the application. She will not be involved with the store.

City Councilman Branch was present at the hearing in support of the Ellwood Park Improvement Association and offered a letter from EPIA stating that they do oppose the request for live entertainment.

Chairman Fogleman checked the character witnesses’ voter registration and property ownership information as well as the current SDAT status of the business entity on the application.

The licensee admitted the violation. He added, “Due to what Mr. Assad is doing in Syria, I’m busy in the Middle East at the moment.” He explained some of the steps that the bar is taking, including carding everyone who looks 35 or younger, putting up signs, etc.

Chairman Fogleman noted that the applicant’s LLC is in good standing and that there were five character witnesses listed on the application, all of whom are registered voters and property owners.