Published: December 03, 2008 10:53 pm      

Former rental unit perfect for lounge, owner says

Frostburg site could temporarily house high-scale bar while new building is constructed

CUMBERLAND — Frostburg resident Jim Braskey said his property at 68 E. Main St. is perfectly suited for the planned Carbon Inc. cocktail lounge and bar, at least on a temporary basis.

Braskey and business partner Ann Rose told the Allegany County Board of License Commissioners on Wednesday that while the property’s recent use has been residential, it sits in the city’s C3 Town Center District, which allows bars, cocktail lounges and restaurants. The property sits beside the Frostburg Eagles Club.

Rose and partners Jessica French and Bradley French are co-owners of Carbon Inc. Before a new building is to be constructed, the trio are in the process of purchasing a Class D beer and wine liquor license and intend to open up a smaller, high-scale lounge in what was a former rental unit in the rear of 68 E. Main St.

Braskey lives in the front portion of the upstairs residential area. Currently, the rear portion is a recreational room, he said, but could be sealed off from the planned lounge area, which totals 650 square feet.

Board chairman Gerald Delaney said he’s received at least one phone call from someone questioning how a liquor license can be active in an apartment building.

Braskey invited the commissioners to inspect the unit. Delaney said he would and noted his main concern was not the former residential use of that part of the building but the inactive status of the liquor license.

By law, licenses can be inactive up to 180 days. The current license owner, Steve Whelan of Whelan’s Tavern in Westernport, has applied for and received a 180-day extension, Delaney said. But that time is running out.

“We can’t let this license be inactive,” Delaney said.

Said Braskey: “We want to get this thing up and going” as soon as possible.

The Liquor Board has scheduled a public hearing on the matter at its Dec. 16 meeting at the County Office Complex. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.

Braskey said even if a new building is not constructed, “we could probably use that as a permanent location.”

Rose mentioned the partners want Carbon Inc. to be open for a New Year’s Eve party. Delaney said if the license were approved Dec. 16, it could open the same day.

Carbon Inc. officials said the temporary location, which could be limited to 20 or so patrons at a time by the fire marshal, is designed to cater to the noncollege student crowd such as Frostburg State University professors.

“There will be no dime beer nights,” Braskey said. “There won’t be anything like it in town.”

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.