Liquor License

The Board of License Commissioners for Washington County on Wednesday granted a liquor license to the co-owners of the Hard Times Cafe at 1705 Massey Blvd. Co-owner Joseph Szekeres said he plans to open the restaurant in September. The Hard Times Cafe is a restaurant chain that serves chili, burgers, wings and other items, according to the company's Web site. - Dan Dearth

A liquor license application for a new music club across from Hagerstown City Hall was dismissed Wednesday. The three-member Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, which oversees county liquor licenses, unanimously agreed to dismiss the application from the owners of KingPin at 41 N. Potomac St. The club owners had applied for a liquor pouring license. The Liquor Board was scheduled to hear public testimony on the application last week. Several neighbors who wanted to testify against the new club receiving a liquor license were at the hearing.

Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday granted a liquor license transfer to the new owners of Governor's Landing Deli & Restaurant in Williamsport. The Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, allowed the liquor license to be transferred from the former owners, Sam and Shawn Cool, to Randy and Renee Knight, who bought the business in April. Randy Knight said the business was permitted to continue serving alcohol until the transfer was complete.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com WAYNESBORO, Pa. - The Hoover House will be able to serve liquor when it opens as an upscale restaurant later this year, its owners said Thursday. Robert and Barbara Persun bought the 15-room, 93-year-old brick building at 227 W. Main St. last year. Robert Persun said the couple was notified last weekend that their application for a liquor license was approved by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Persun said the investigator who handled the application for the board recommended approval.

HAGERSTOWN -- The manager of a nightclub on Dual Highway in Hagerstown on Wednesday told the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, the establishment has been violating the conditions of its liquor license. Roy Lorshbaugh, manager of Divi's Nightclub at 431 Dual Highway, said during a hearing the nightclub wasn't serving at least 51 percent food. Businesses with a license to pour alcohol must serve at least 51 percent prepared food, or food that is cooked, as a condition of the license.

Hagerstown City Police are asking the county liquor board to suspend Duke's Tavern's liquor license for 30 days. The downtown bar, which is in the first block of East Franklin Street near City Hall, was the scene of a stabbing and an assault in January. Also, police were called to Duke's Tavern hundreds more times than to any other downtown bar over a recent 12-month period, according to police figures submitted to the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday. The Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, which oversees liquor licenses in the county, is expected to hear the case at 10:30 a.m. today at the board's West Washington Street office.

HAGERSTOWN -- Officials from the Antietam Moose asked the Washington County liquor board on Wednesday for permission to transfer their liquor license to new quarters. Moose representative Kenneth Kitchen told the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, that the owner of the building that the Antietam Moose leases off Md. 60 plans to sell the property. As a result, the Moose has to find new quarters by Sept. 1, he said. The Antietam Moose, which has about 900 members, intends to move to a building that was the site of a former convenience store and pizza shop at 640 Frederick St. in Hagerstown, Kitchen said.

kimy@herald-mail.com The owners of a Boonsboro restaurant may have to reapply for a liquor license after failing to pay their taxes and letting their license expire, according to an inspector with the Washington County Board of License Commissioners. The liquor board was notified by the state in April that the Old Pike Grill & Pub at 7700 Old National Pike had failed to pay its taxes, inspector Bob Shoemaker said. The outstanding taxes must be paid before the business will be allowed to renew its liquor license, Shoemaker said.

FUNKSTOWN - Funkstown Moose Lodge 2435 has been ordered to hand over its liquor license until nearly $11,000 in back state taxes are paid, a spokesman for the Maryland State Comptroller's Office said Tuesday. Spokesman Kevin Kane said that if the lodge enters into a payment plan with the comptroller's office it will be allowed to operate using its liquor license. "We expect the matter to be closed by October," Kane said. "Their liquor license will be revoked until they enter into an agreement.

scottb@herald-mail.com The Sharpsburg American Legion has requested a liquor license for when it resumes operations at its former location on Mechanic Street, Commander Tom Witmer said Friday. The Board of License Commissioners discussed the issue with Legion members during the board's meeting Wednesday. On Friday, board Chairman Donald L. Mellott said Wednesday's meeting involved a discussion and was not an official hearing. Mellott would not comment further and would not say if a hearing has been scheduled.