What happened at the Liquor Board on April 23, 2015.

DANA D. GALINUS and STEPHEN P. OSMOND, PUB DOG OF FEDERAL HILL, INC, Pub Dog Pizza & Draft House – 20 E. Cross Street – Class “BD7” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

WILLIAM A. MCFAUL and JENNIFER A. REDA, 26 E. CROSS, LLC, Stalking Horse at 26 E. Cross Street – Class “BD7” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

DOUGLAS ATWELL, CROSS STREET MANAGEMENT,LLC, Bookmakers at 31-33 E. Cross Street – Class “BD7” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

HOWARD BARTZ and JENNIFER MCCOMAS, CHARYBDIS, LLC, Ryleigh’s Oyster House at 32 E. Cross Street – Class “B” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

ERIC LEVITT and PATRICK MORROW, 38 CROSS, LLC, No Way Jose Café at 38 E. Cross Street – Class “B” Beer, Wine & Liquor License – Protest of renewal under the provisions of Article 2B Section 10-301(a)

BRIAN E. ACQUAVELLA, SF LIFE, INC, Blue Agave Restaurant – 1032 Light Street Class “B” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

JOHN P. DAHLGREN, ROWHOUSE GRILLE, LLC, Rowhouse Bar & Grill – 1400 Light Street – Class “B” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

NICHOLAS MARSHALL, DANIEL F. PIROG, JR., and ERICKA L. WODKA, PIROG & MARSHALL, INC., Nobles Bar & Grill – 1024 S. Charles Street – Class “BD7” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

KENNETH L. HORSMAN, KENZO, LLC, Illusion Magic Bar & Lounge – 1025-27 S. Charles Street – Class “D” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

LAWRENCE DAVIDOV, FAT LARRY’S, LLC, Fat Larry’s – 1026 S. Charles Street- Class “D” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

PAUL DOLAWAY, MAGERK’S PUB, INC., MaGerk’s – 1061 S. Charles Street – Class “BD7” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

JOHN DURKIN, MICHAEL MASTELLONE, and THOMAS M. MINK, JR., MAD RIVER BALTIMORE, LLC, Mad River Bar & Grille – 1110 S. Charles Street – Class “B” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

ADAM RATHER and DAVID RATHER, MOTHER’S FEDERAL HILL GRILL, INC, Mother’s Federal Hill at 1113 S. Charles Street – Class “B” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

GUY T. NAYLOR, C AND R RESTAURANT GROUP, LLC, C & R Pub – 1117 S. Charles Street – Class “B” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

BRUCE RICHARDSON and MICHAEL WHITE, THE SOBO TACO SPOT, Banditos – 1118 S. Charles Street – Class “BD7” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

MARY E. EPISCOPO-MCFAUL, ROPEWALK, INC, Ropewalk – 1209 S. Charles Street – Class “BD7” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

HARRY R. MILLER, IV, ABBEY BISTRO, LLC., Abbey Burger Bistro – 1041-43 Marshall Street – Class “B” Beer, Wine & Liquor License.

Mr. Woolman, for several of the bar owners, objected to Ms. Homer’s statements, because there was no issue before the Board, since they had already agreed to renew the licenses for 2015. Chairman Ward said that he would listen to the issues that the community has. Ward said that bar crawls used to happen on buses and didn’t bother neighbors. He said that the purpose of these events is not to honor Irish culture but to make money.

Ms. Homer pointed out that the one-day event licenses do not have the opportunity for public involvement. Ward responded that the Liquor Board’s system, which used to work, may not work any more.

Under Article 2B section 9-101(b), if a liquor license application is made by a corporation, the license will be issued to three of the officers for their use on behalf of the corporation, at least one of whom must have been a registered voter and taxpayer of the county or city and must have resided there for two years. Evidence was submitted to show that Mr. Grace had not lived in Baltimore City for over a decade, and Mr. Gunshol had not lived in Baltimore City since August 2013. However, both licensees had submitted renewal applications to the Board stating that they did live in Baltimore City, though they were registered to vote and had submitted Homestead Applications in other counties.

Mr. Grace testified that he thought he was a Baltimore City resident, because he does rent an apartment in Canton where he stays occasionally. He also testified that he did not know that Mr. Gunshol had moved, and when he became aware of it, he submitted an amended application.

The community association then moved on to argue that the bar has disturbed the public health, safety, and welfare of the surrounding community. One community member testified that the music is loud and unpleasant, and she can hear it in her home. Another testified that he owns the building directly adjacent to the Big Easy, and his tenants often complain of loud music at night. Many letters of opposition to the bar were submitted from various community associations, institutions, and representatives. Mr. Grace testified that he is willing to work with the community and has tried to manage the noise issue. Finally, an affidavit from an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was submitted regarding drug trafficking done by the former manager of the Big Easy, Richard Mariano, who was arrested while driving a car containing two softball sized packages of cocaine in November 2014. Mr. Grace told the Board that he did not know that Mr. Mariano had been arrested and said that he had fired Mr. Mariano in November.