Liquor License

A local caterer and restaurateur was granted a liquor license on Wednesday to do business at the former Black Steer restaurant on Mason Dixon Road north of Hagerstown. The Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, voted 3-0 to grant the license to Donald Hoffman. Hoffman told the liquor board that he was shooting for February or March to open Hoffman's American Grill, Deli & Catering at 18203 Mason Dixon Road. Hoffman said after the hearing that he intends to sell chicken, steak, sandwiches and other fare.

The co-owner of the Hampton Inn at 1716 Dual Highway in Hagerstown told Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday that he wanted to apply for a liquor license. Randy Morral said during a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, that he wanted the license to sell alcohol as an additional amenity to his guests. “(We'll) only sell to guests,” he said. “If they're not there, if they don't register, we won't sell to them.” The three-member liquor board told Morral that it would make a decision within 30 days if he chose to apply for the license.

The owners of the former Woodpoint Grill in Hagerstown told Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday that they needed a new liquor license to reopen the business. Brothers Jeff and Keith South, and their Realtor, Tim Light, said during a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County that the Souths have made “six figures” worth of upgrades to the building at 1437 Salem Ave. A third owner, Doug South, did not attend the hearing. “Many wiring issues were discovered that needed remedied before the business could pass code inspection,” Light said.

Next Dimensions Dining & Catering near Funkstown has been fined $500 for allowing customers to consume alcohol at the business while its liquor license was inactive. The Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, voted 3-0 to impose the fine during a Wednesday hearing.  “In this case, the board feels that a fine would be a proper deterrent so it doesn't happen again, rather than suspend the license or revoke the license,” liquor board Secretary William Dunham said.

The prospective buyers of the Hagerstown Hotel & Convention Center told Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday that they wanted to retain the business' liquor license if the sale goes forward. Bill Barnes and Paul Ritchie said during a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, that they hadn't settled on a use for the property, but they wanted to maintain the liquor license if they decided to use it later. “We have multiple ideas,” Barnes said.

Antietam Moose 2435 is one step closer to opening the doors of its new lodge at the former The Grille at Park Circle near City Park in Hagerstown. On Wednesday, the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, approved the Moose's application for a liquor license. Lodge administrator Frank Carpenter said the Moose would like to hold its grand opening Aug. 8.

The county liquor board will allow the owner of the Black Eyed Susan restaurant in Halfway to transfer his liquor license to a new restaurant north of Hagerstown. John Walla told the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County on Wednesday that he will use the license to serve alcohol when he opens a second Black Eyed Susan in mid-April at 18727 North Pointe Drive. The new site was the former location of Beef 'O' Brady's. He said he will stop selling alcohol at the existing restaurant at 17102 Virginia Ave. The current Black Eyed Susan will serve diner-style food, while the new location will offer more sophisticated fare, Walla said.

Frank Illiano, who owns the Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille franchise rights in five Maryland counties, asked Washington County liquor officials for a liquor license Wednesday so he can open one of the restaurants on Eastern Boulevard in Hagerstown. If everything goes as planned, Illiano said he would break ground in April across the street from the Al Pomodoro restaurant at 1101 Opal Court. Illiano said the 8,500-square-foot restaurant would represent about a $5 million investment in the community.

HAGERSTOWN ? County liquor officials on Wednesday urged the owner of the Annaffiare restaurant at 431 Dual Highway in Hagerstown to turn in her liquor license. Robert L. Everhart, chairman of the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, told Rita Waltz, owner of Annaffiare, that she should surrender the license, in part, because she owes the state about $12,000 in taxes. Waltz said she did not owe the state that much money. She did not, however, give the liquor board an exact amount that she believed was past due. In addition to the tax issue, the commissioners questioned whether Waltz was maintaining regular business hours at the restaurant - a condition that the liquor board requires businesses under its authority to follow.

The owner of Rocky's University New York Pizza in downtown Hagerstown told Washington County liquor officials Wednesday he plans to reopen the business at 40 N. Potomac St. on May 1. Vinnie DiCola appeared before the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, to discuss the status of his liquor license. DiCola said he didn't plan to renew the license he used at the former Rocky's University New York Pizza on Public Square, which was destroyed by a fire last August.