Baltimore City liquor board approves Hooters hardship extension, new Checkerspot restaurant license and a string of transfers and outdoor seating requests

The Board of Liquor License Commissioners for Baltimore City on Feb. 13 approved a 180‑day hardship extension for a liquor license tied to the former Hooters at Harborplace and granted a new Class B beer, wine and liquor restaurant license with outdoor table service to Checkerspot Brewing, among a slate of license transfers and outdoor seating additions.

The board voted to extend the Harborplace license for 180 days under the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, citing the applicant’s request and the landlord’s efforts to find an interim or permanent tenant. Caroline Hecker, an attorney with Rosenberg Martin Greenberg representing the secured creditor/licensee Adam Jen, said the landlord took control of the Hooters license after the restaurant closed in June and the extra time was to allow staff to locate an interim operator and prepare for Harborplace redevelopment. “The landlord took control of the license at the end of last year, and we're trying to find a new tenant to operate that space,” Hecker said. The board approved the 180‑day hardship extension by unanimous voice vote.

Checkerspot Brewing, which applied to convert to a Class B restaurant license at 1421 Ridgeland Street, told the board it has operated a brewery since 2018 and is seeking the restaurant license to remain competitive and expand offerings to include local wines and spirits. Attorney Stephen W. Fogelman described the applicant’s compliance with statutory investment requirements and said the operator’s planned seating — including mezzanines and overflow outdoor seating — is shown on fire department paperwork. Owner Judy (Judy/Judith) Neff said Checkerspot has about 25 on‑site parking spaces, free street parking nearby and arrangements for paid event parking when Ravens games increase demand. “Yes, we have parking on our property, about 25 spots,” Neff said. The board approved the new Class B license with outdoor table service.

The hearing was dominated by routine transfer and amended‑transfer requests. The board granted transfers or amended transfers (including requests that would continue live entertainment, add outdoor table service, or permit off‑premises catering and delivery) for the following entities; each motion passed by unanimous vote as recorded in the meeting:

Votes at a glance - Harbor Place / Hooters (301 Light Street): 180‑day hardship extension approved (tally: yes 3). Authority cited: Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article §12‑2202 (extension request). - Club International LLC (2301 W. Baltimore St.): 90‑day transfer hardship extension approved (tally: yes 3). Authority cited: Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article §12‑1705(b). - Checkerspot Brewing LLC (1421 Ridgeland St.): new Class B beer, wine and liquor restaurant license with outdoor table service approved (tally: yes 3). - Canton Market / Dylan & Louis George (2334 Boston St.): transfer of existing Class A beer, wine and liquor license with delivery approved (tally: yes 3). - Elements Nightlife LLC (1818 Maryland Ave.): transfer of Class B license with continued live entertainment, outdoor table service and permission for off‑premises catering and delivery approved (tally: yes 3). - Hamden Yards / William Menti (1014 W. 30th St.): amended application to transfer ownership and location of BD7 license approved (tally: yes 3). - Conda Enterprises Inc. / Shahabaz Singh & Tracy Owens (2300 W. Baltimore St.): transfer approved (tally: yes 3). - Midlina LLC (Boston St. — trade name pending): transfer of BD7 license with off‑premises catering and delivery approved (tally: yes 3) (exhibit: letter of support from Canton Community Association). - Hair of the Dog Inc. (1649–51 S. Hanover St.): transfer with continuation of outdoor table service approved (tally: yes 3). - 1 A Smash / Maldon Inc. (3500 O'Donnell St.): transfer from a secured creditor approved (tally: yes 3). - MLJ Inc. / Glenroy Lang (moving BD7 license to 3900 Roland Ave.): amended application for transfer of ownership and location with outdoor table service approved (tally: yes 3). - Fazier Frasier's on the Avenue (917–19 W. 30th St.): request to add outdoor table service (six tables, seating for 24) approved (tally: yes 3). - Broadway Diner (6501 Eastern Ave.): transfer of Class B beer, wine and liquor license approved (tally: yes 3).

Discussion and context Board members asked limited follow‑up questions on specific items. For Checkerspot, commissioners asked about parking and the effect of off‑season promotions; the owner said local customer patterns and Valentine’s Day service were expected to affect business seasonally. On several transfers the board confirmed that staff who will handle alcohol are TIP‑ or alcohol‑awareness certified; in some cases applicants said they would register additional employees for required training.

Most applications were routine transfers of in‑place operations or secured‑creditor transfers and drew no opposition in the hearing record. The board’s decisions were presented as votes recorded after counsel proffers and testimony; specific vote attributions were recorded by voice (three affirmative votes recorded for each approval).

What the board did not do No items were tabled or denied at this meeting. Two docketed cases noted at the outset were postponed and will be heard at a later date: (a) James Joseph King and Peter B. Rosenwald II, Barn and Lodge at Rotunda (amended application for a new Class B) and (b) Wayne Lang Perkersdorf LLC (application for new Class B at 4001 Falls Road).

Next steps The board recessed and scheduled its next meeting for Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

Ending note: Quotes in this article are from the hearing transcript of the Board of Liquor License Commissioners for Baltimore City on Feb. 13, 2025; direct quotations are attributed to the speakers listed in the article’s speaker roster.