Liquor License

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.

Washington County liquor officials Wednesday warned the owner of the Short Stop Tavern in Hagerstown to make progress on reopening the establishment or risk losing his liquor license. During a hearing, the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County told Mike Deming, owner of the Short Stop Tavern at 17 W. Antietam St., to show progress in six months, or they would consider revoking the license. Deming said he plans to move the tavern about a half block east from its current location to the corner of South Potomac and West Antietam streets.

Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday voted 3-0 to deny a local developer's request for a liquor license transfer. Adam Shaool, of Washco Developments Inc., applied for the license that was held by the former Landing Restaurant at 710 Dual Highway in Hagerstown. He told the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County during a hearing Wednesday that he wanted to transfer the license to a site that was under construction at 93 Eastern Blvd. Shaool did not say what type of business he intended to open at the property, but said it had been zoned for a number of uses, including a bank, liquor store and restaurant.

Hagerstown Police Department complaints about a downtown bar and restaurant, which was the site of a March stabbing, could cost the establishment its liquor license. During a hearing before the Washington County Board of License Commissioners on Wednesday, city police officers said the patrons of Regals Restaurant & Lounge at 12-14 N. Jonathan St. are drunk and unruly when they leave the establishment at closing time and congregate in a nearby parking lot. Police included reports about a March 20 stabbing and a fight that followed in their complaint to the Liquor Board, according to a letter from the board to the owners of Regals.

The owner of Club Twisted said Tuesday she closed the private club in Berkeley County because the building was condemned, not because of investigations that ensued after recent fatal stabbing and shooting incidents in the club's parking lot. Brandhl "Brandy" Boyd said she surrendered her state license to serve alcohol for the club at 5268 Williamsport Pike after the building, which she doesn't own, was deemed unsafe on Nov. 29  for human occupancy by...

shappell@herald-mail.com The Board of License Commissioners for Washington County stripped the proprietor of a Boonsboro bar of his liquor license in the wake of a drug bust there in August. A letter from the board, sent to Donald L. Eavey, said his alcoholic beverage license officially was revoked last Wednesday. Following an Oct. 29 hearing, the board found that Eavey, 49, failed to maintain the "peace, quiet and safety in the neighborhood" of the Dogpatch Tavern, and that he was within 30 feet of at least 10 customers who were in possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia, according to the letter.

The owners of a Hagerstown convenience store told Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday that they intend to apply for an off-sale liquor license. Mohamad and Saira Khan said during a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County that they wanted the liquor license to sell alcohol at Nadia's Convenience Store at 200 W. Washington St. Robert Everhart, liquor board chairman, told the Khans, among other things, that they would have to get fingerprinted, and pass inspections from the fire and health departments.

Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday granted a liquor license to the owners of a new tavern in Leitersburg despite hearing opposition from several people. The Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, voted 3-0 to grant the license to Charles and Tammy Beachley. The Beachleys said they intend to open Dewey's Pub in about a month at the site of the former Leitersburg Hotel at 21400 Leiter St. “We're definitely there to help the community and not hurt it,” Charles Beachley said.

A former Hagerstown resident told Washington County liquor officials Wednesday that he wants to open a restaurant in a downtown building that has housed three previous restaurants over the last five years. Bob Hagerman told the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County during a hearing that he wanted to make a go of opening a restaurant at 43 S. Potomac St. The address most recently operated as Legends on the Square. The owners of that business turned in their liquor license Tuesday.

The owner of a popular Hagerstown restaurant and lounge who failed to renew his liquor license on time said he had to close for dinner Wednesday before the issue was resolved. Alexander Tiches, owner and general manager of LJ's and the Kat Lounge at 1130 Conrad Court, said he was told by Washington County liquor officials that he would have to reapply for the liquor license because he paid the renewal fee on May 1 - a day after the April 30 deadline. As a result, he said he made the decision to cancel dinner service Wednesday evening.