Liquor License

Washington County liquor officials voted 3-0 during a Wednesday hearing to revoke the liquor license of a tavern in downtown Hagerstown. For more than four years, the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County had been holding the license of the Short Stop Tavern near the corner of South Potomac and West Antietam streets while owner Mike Deming said he was renovating the building. “I make a motion that we void the license at this time,” liquor board Secretary William Dunham said.

The owner of a sports bar where a 28-year-old man was fatally shot in the parking lot early Sunday surrendered her liquor license Wednesday and will not reopen, her attorney said. “Because of this incident, they've just decided they don't want to be in the nightclub business anymore,” said attorney Floyd M. “Kin” Sayre III. Samson Edmond was pronounced dead Sunday at City Hospital in Martinsburg after being shot once in the chest outside The Brick House Bar & Grill at 214 Mid Atlantic Parkway near Martinsburg, according to police who are still investigating the homicide.

A co-owner of the Woodpoint Bar & Grill in Hagerstown told Washington County liquor officials earlier this week that he intends to reopen the popular restaurant by the end of October. Jeff South, who owns the business with his brothers, Doug and Keith, said during a hearing Wednesday before the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County that the building at 1437 Salem Ave. still needs work done to the ceiling and other places before they can reopen. “We'd like to (open)

Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday ordered the owner of El Palenque Cantina in Hagerstown to pay a $2,500 fine because of multiple complaints that were made against the downtown bar and restaurant earlier this year. The Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, known as the liquor board, also voted to suspend the liquor license of Jose Arias, El Palenque's owner, for 60 days. Robert Everhart, liquor board chairman, said after the hearing that Arias has 30 days to pay the fine or file an appeal at Washington County Circuit Court.

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.

A Hagerstown man told Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday that he was interested in buying a popular restaurant on East Franklin Street. Perry White said during a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County that he wanted to buy Laila's Kitchen at 4 E. Franklin St. near Hagerstown City Hall. He said he needed to know what he would have to do to apply for a liquor license. Robert Everhart, liquor board chairman, said that among other things, the business would have to pass inspections from the health and fire departments.

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.

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.

Always Ron's employee wants to open restaurant A Hagerstown restaurant worker told Washington County liquor officials earlier this week that he wants to make a go at opening a restaurant downtown. Jay Zuspan, an employee at Always Ron's restaurant on Burhans Boulevard, said during a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County that he wanted to apply for a liquor license because he intends to open a restaurant around September at 28 S. Potomac St. The location was the site of the former Taj India restaurant from 2009 to February of this year and Duffy's restaurant from 2006-09.