Board approves Foxy Fish front-porch service expansion; cautions on crowd control

The St. Mary's County Alcohol Beverage Board approved a request by Deborah and David Buckler to extend premises at Foxy Fish to allow alcohol service on the front porch, the board said at its Sept. 14, 2017 meeting.

Owner Deborah (Debbie) Buckler told the board she seeks the change to ease congestion inside the restaurant by adding bench seating and small tall tables on the front deck. She described the front deck as “quite a large deck” and said she estimates placing five to seven small round tables outside, and that the facility’s fire marshal load is 94.

Board members emphasized the need for staff to control access to the porch and for clear signage. A board member recommended roping and posted notices stating “no alcoholic beverages beyond this point.” The applicant said a server would be stationed at an exterior access door so staff could serve and monitor outdoor patrons.

The board voted to approve the extension. Members advised the licensee to ensure adequate staff are present during busy periods so that patrons do not carry alcohol into the parking lot and so that entry and egress remain unobstructed.

The approval applies to the front-porch area as described in the applicant’s materials and does not automatically authorize future construction or changes that would alter capacity; Buckler said any expansion that affects septic or seating would be a later project requiring permits and further review.