[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] Okay. Good afternoon, everyone. We are here for the Board of Licensed Commissars
[0:09] meeting on September 17th, 2005. And at this point, I'd like to welcome our newest
[0:15] member, William E. Esch and the third to our board. And also, we'd like to start
[0:21] out with our Administrative Matters and approve all the minutes.
[0:25] I move that we approve the minutes.
[0:27] I second. Okay. All in favor? Aye. Minutes are passed. Skip. Could you call our 105
[0:36] meeting if it's 105?
[0:55] Quite the, uh...
[1:00] It is.
[1:01] Would be Jeff, Jeff Main proud.
[1:03] Yeah, Jeff Main would be proud. Hello.
[1:05] Hi.
[1:06] Good afternoon.
[1:08] Good afternoon.
[1:09] Hello, good, good, good.
[1:11] Good, we're here. The meeting for the Beeshrine Lounge, a class B beer-wine liquor
[1:16] seven-day license request to offer the premises which was then included or
[1:20] approved in December of 2023 at 1706 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland.
[1:27] Christina, would perhaps be standing in for Mr. Cropper, representing the Beeshrine Lounge.
[1:33] Real quick, uh, in front, this will be testimony, so if you're going to testify,
[1:37] please stand and raise your right hand. If you saw me swear, affirm it,
[1:41] and the penalties occurred, here's the following testimony.
[1:43] You're about to give us the truth.
[1:44] I'm sure you know the truth.
[1:45] I know.
[1:46] Could you give your name and address for the court reporter?
[1:48] Peter Lines, 11604, Coastal Highway, Unit 1010, Ocean City, Maryland, 21842.
[1:55] Thank you.
[1:56] Congratulations.
[1:57] Thank you.
[1:58] All right.
[1:59] So, um, thank you. So my boss, Mr. Cropper, um, had sent in emails of communication
[2:05] to Ms. Bain to withdrawal, um, I guess the hearing that was scheduled.
[2:11] Um, we are so moving forward, obviously, with the Beeshrine Lounge concept.
[2:16] Um, but as you, most of you know, in Ocean City, things take time.
[2:21] Um, there are many different processes that we've, hurdles that we've hit
[2:25] between architectural, the town, building permits, fire marshal, health department.
[2:30] So it's kind of in stages. Um, parking was our biggest issue.
[2:34] Um, to establish the non-conformity we had to not be sitting idle.
[2:39] Um, so that the, um, establishment was opened up,
[2:44] sold some food without the need for the liquor license.
[2:47] Um, I think Mr. Cropper initially thought,
[2:49] well, the liquor license is the thing that will really help us.
[2:52] But that's behind us now.
[2:54] We've established that, um, we still have that non-conformity that's existing.
[2:58] So we are just in the development phase to keep going forward.
[3:02] That's kind of the status of it, unless you have any questions for us.
[3:05] But that is still our goal.
[3:07] I saw the renderings today.
[3:08] It's a beautiful building.
[3:10] So, what we approved, this board approved in September of 2023.
[3:15] It seemed like a long time ago.
[3:17] Has that changed along the way?
[3:19] Or is it the exact same concept that some of us saw anyway in 2023?
[3:25] The exact same concept.
[3:27] I think the concern was, I mean, you're wrong.
[3:29] No, no, it's okay.
[3:30] I think what the concern was, was the bistro kind of just selling food.
[3:34] Um, just billing a need.
[3:36] But that was again to deal with the ocean city and the non-conformity.
[3:39] That is behind us.
[3:40] We are just pushing full steam ahead to get into the bistro now.
[3:45] But when you build it out, it'll be as presented previously.
[3:49] Yes.
[3:50] Yes.
[3:51] Um, yes.
[3:52] There were some design issues.
[3:53] I guess we're still working with the town.
[3:55] Yes.
[3:56] So the biggest setback was parking.
[3:58] So we were on track back in November.
[4:01] Um, you know, everything was good.
[4:03] And then they kind of pulled it back.
[4:06] It was like right around December-ish when we started talking back with Mr.
[4:10] Vendor and Bill to look at the parking issue.
[4:13] Even though we were kind of going in the right direction,
[4:15] the biggest concern was the courtyard enclosure with that glass house I showed you guys.
[4:19] So I always had a plan B to that.
[4:21] And so we are hitting the plan B.
[4:23] So I have to make that enclosure a little smaller for them, um,
[4:27] in order for us to get to the parking,
[4:29] which we've kind of come to an agreement with.
[4:31] And so now that, that's been a huge, we've met with them multiple times
[4:35] to kind of get through that part.
[4:36] That's what delayed all this to be honest with you.
[4:38] That's why we're here.
[4:39] Um, and then, you know, um,
[4:42] we wanted to protect the non-conforming all costs,
[4:45] which we've achieved.
[4:46] We got a business license.
[4:47] We've operated.
[4:48] I've sold land relief hot dogs.
[4:50] Um, that's how dogs know the city.
[4:52] Um, and I, you know, that was the biggest thing.
[4:55] I didn't want to have any confusion with liquor licensing
[4:57] what we're doing.
[4:58] That is still the goal.
[4:59] That's all right.
[5:00] And back when you were here in 2023,
[5:02] if my memory is correct,
[5:04] I think it might be.
[5:05] You were leasing the facility at that point.
[5:07] It's, we own that.
[5:08] You own it now.
[5:09] Yes.
[5:10] But then you were leasing it.
[5:11] Yeah.
[5:12] That's true.
[5:13] That's right.
[5:14] So you've purchased that location.
[5:15] Yeah.
[5:16] And you're going to be doing some major improvements
[5:17] to that office.
[5:18] Some serious improvements.
[5:19] We hope to make you proud of that.
[5:20] Maybe you've been in there before.
[5:21] It was remote.
[5:22] Uh, as a, as a young person,
[5:24] I haven't been there before.
[5:25] That's why Mr. Coughlin is here.
[5:27] No comment.
[5:28] It's okay.
[5:29] He might have been with me.
[5:30] You never know.
[5:32] But yeah.
[5:33] So I think it's, it's, it's just,
[5:35] it's things that are taking time,
[5:36] but we are, we are pushing ahead.
[5:37] They've met several times this summer.
[5:39] I know.
[5:40] So as far as our records go,
[5:42] the ownership is the same?
[5:44] Yes.
[5:45] Yes.
[5:46] Nothing's changed.
[5:47] Nothing's changed.
[5:48] Okay.
[5:49] And then, uh,
[5:54] so the sales tax and all that stuff
[5:56] is getting taken care of.
[5:57] From my life,
[5:58] I think there was some confusion
[6:00] about, um, a company
[6:03] that has three separate licenses.
[6:05] License one, two, and three,
[6:07] whether or not three,
[6:08] three, I guess,
[6:09] the numbers could be issued,
[6:10] but I think Mr. Coughlin was working on that.
[6:12] Okay.
[6:13] So there's not going to be any activity
[6:15] at the location until it's completely finished,
[6:18] other than what you did.
[6:19] Yes.
[6:20] That's correct.
[6:21] Code of conformity.
[6:22] Yeah.
[6:23] So it's going to sit there.
[6:24] And how long do you think this will be till it's,
[6:26] because it's been 2023.
[6:28] And I realized a lot of things happening,
[6:30] but I mean,
[6:31] it's improved the sitting out there for quite a while.
[6:33] It's not a lot to happen.
[6:34] I have a big mortgage.
[6:36] So it's my 911 to get this thing up and running
[6:38] and to feed itself.
[6:39] So right now, um,
[6:41] you know, we still have to finalize things to,
[6:44] um, you know, to get our permits.
[6:46] So where our focus is to
[6:48] go there a hundred miles an hour.
[6:49] And as soon as they say AP,
[6:51] they have our blessing.
[6:52] Here's our permit.
[6:53] We've already addressed the place
[6:54] that we've opened up, for example,
[6:56] which is actually going to have the A-frame,
[6:58] which is the south side of the building.
[7:00] That is actually going to be one of the few places
[7:02] in that whole entire property
[7:03] that's going to stay pretty much similar
[7:05] to what it looks like.
[7:06] So we've already got health,
[7:07] you know,
[7:08] a fire marshal health department approval
[7:10] because we're operating in that space.
[7:12] So we're progressing towards that.
[7:14] Um, now the rest of it is to get the final details.
[7:16] It's really,
[7:17] everything is good.
[7:18] It's really about that class structure to be finalized.
[7:21] And then we should be golden.
[7:22] Okay.
[7:23] I mean, you brought it up.
[7:24] You say you have a large mortgage.
[7:25] And yet for your business plan,
[7:27] how long do you think before this is going to be open?
[7:30] I mean, my intent is to have it open, you know,
[7:32] by, you know, late spring or early summer in 2026.
[7:35] Okay.
[7:36] So that's my target.
[7:37] And it's your testimony that you,
[7:39] Mr. Lys and Mr. Singh
[7:41] are the only two partners in this business.
[7:43] Yes.
[7:44] Yes.
[7:45] Yes.
[7:46] Yes.
[7:47] Yes.
[7:48] Yes.
[7:49] Yes.
[7:50] Yes.
[7:51] Yes.
[7:52] Yes.
[7:53] Yes.
[7:54] That's what I heard.
[7:55] Yes.
[7:56] They have done everything they needed to do to meet their
[7:58] non-compagny by selling hot dogs,
[8:01] which doesn't affect us.
[8:03] I know.
[8:04] They're for a long long time.
[8:06] They're big.
[8:07] Like you're.
[8:08] You're tiny.
[8:09] Like you could fit in between that right there.
[8:11] Pretty big.
[8:12] Just to clarify,
[8:13] the atrium that you referred to is option one,
[8:15] option two.
[8:16] Was that covered in the original?
[8:18] I believe it was in the 2023.
[8:21] there was but if there's changes it's got to come back I'm just I just we want to
[8:25] be clear there's been a lot of moving here and we will address that right now
[8:30] that's the part I know I know that that is our goal now is to get that fine
[8:35] tune with Mr. Bender you know to make sure we get their buses for the parking
[8:39] thing so we we've kind of pressed on and now the architect has already put
[8:43] something in the place we want to make sure we get approval before I bring
[8:46] it back to you because we may have to open up that courtyard we have to
[8:49] open up that courier for them so I will present that you know with you guys we
[8:53] can make those changes that's that's where we are right now Mr. Cropper's and
[8:58] all the sales tax stuff and all that stuff's gonna get fixed we just I'm
[9:08] gonna speak for Miss Payne it's been a moving ball and I think we're used to
[9:14] having it set documented properly I know you know this so we want to make sure
[9:20] it's proper and correct and not all these moving parts yes we do need a
[9:29] clarification because Mr. Cropper did not address it once the email changes
[9:34] started with the the new the bistro and lounge LLC being created and being
[9:39] issued a retail sales tax number he indicated that as the entity or the
[9:44] tenant which is going which is going in the structure but that is not the LLC
[9:49] that was applied for back in 2023 as the entity so that needs to be clarified
[9:55] as to who the tenant is owners of course would have to be the same because of
[10:01] the way that the multiple licensing occurs throughout the county and with
[10:05] these three locations that Mr. Elias has so there's still not a clarification on
[10:12] the bistro and lounge LLC why was it created and issued a retail sales tax
[10:18] number and what is his affiliation to this address which it was issued to
[10:23] this physical address so if that is the case then I explained to Mr. Cropper
[10:28] that technically it has to go through a transfer because the LLC which had
[10:34] applied is not the same so you would have to follow through with the transfer
[10:40] of ownership between the tentatively approved seven stars hospitality of OC
[10:46] LLC to the bistro and lounge LLC if that's the case and I'm assuming it is
[10:51] because that when you look at the physical addresses the retail sales
[10:55] tax number was issued for this physical address so there's a
[10:59] definite I can get that clarification for you that might have been a mistake on
[11:04] Mr. Cropper's part I think the initial concept though was to have the multiple
[11:08] reasons just the original name and the original approach seven circle
[11:12] liquor license that's our liquor license for sure that belongs to Mr.
[11:17] Singh and myself and the bistro lounge was the operating entity for that was
[11:22] going to be wasn't a BBA was an LLC are you saying the bistro lounge owns the
[11:26] real estate the bistro lounge holding owns the real estate Bistro lounge LLC
[11:32] was going to be the operational entity and seven star both is a liquor license
[11:37] okay four seven stars correct yes we would need the management agreement between
[11:42] the two entities if that's the case so what I'd like to clarify to you Mr.
[11:49] lies today that this license won't get issued until all these conditions have
[11:54] been rectified 100% cleared and this pain and maybe skip doing inspection on your
[12:01] location so he's been there with me a lot of things have changed I just I want to
[12:07] be clipped miss Piotowski will indicate to you what we're saying as a board you
[12:12] can have all these moving pieces you need to be within your application that
[12:17] was approved or you need to come back here come back for your transfer
[12:21] we're here we come every month and certainly Mr. Fisher can tell you that
[12:24] too we're here it's got to be right it can't be willy-nilly okay yeah so you
[12:39] mentioned that I mean while you're here I mean tell us you've got a couple other
[12:43] venue things going on and there you running those come see me yeah I'm
[12:48] only official here
[12:52] and you're under oath yeah yeah I'm doing you know what I do best you know I was
[13:01] always in consulting with restaurants and they used to leave a lot of that
[13:04] before I even came here back in New York and I'm doing the same thing if
[13:07] you are confiding in like my you know I'm at 1099 you know at oyster and
[13:13] scales and we just opened up the operation help them kind of guide
[13:15] them in operations and that's that's what we've been doing we opened up 30 days
[13:21] ago and so there's a lot of success there's the old marina deck and so we're
[13:26] excited to have that property and then also the bakery bainty bakery as well
[13:31] too it's it was you know there's but you're helping them as I'm at 1099 right
[13:37] yeah so when you're doing this type of operation consulting is very intimate
[13:43] and it's very involved to make sure that the team can kind of get up and running
[13:47] to maintain the culture and the discipline and the steps of service so
[13:51] those are things that kind of give me in and so I put myself away and make sure
[13:54] that team has it going that's the plan you know it's what we've been doing
[13:58] now so it's been very very busy doing those things and then there's a couple
[14:03] things you know I'm trying to get over my head around as well too so it's
[14:08] been a blessing she'll keep you straight please
[14:24] yeah well we got you here got gap Tom captive saying it's either coming on
[14:29] against you and everyone else I mean yes so that's my head is there now because we
[14:34] are that building is pretty much again building structure the biggest part is
[14:40] done the hardest part was getting the back of the building built which was
[14:45] approved and so honestly because I had to pivot to handle the overwhelming
[14:51] response for the properties I was involved with in Ocean City because of
[14:55] the season my head was there because I was low hanging fruit and
[15:00] We had some things to work through, which we've done with, you know, the county for that back building.
[15:08] So my head's there, I'm trying to get that done this fall.
[15:10] You know, opened up this fall, and then at the same time get our permits for, you know, the bistro, and get that rolling, and come back to you, and get this thing rolling.
[15:20] That's where my head is right now, good stuff, okay, yeah.
[15:23] What is on the back of that building, on Sand and Cedar?
[15:26] So that's that concrete pad?
[15:28] Yes.
[15:29] That's the back of the house. That was our, that's where our walk-ins are going to be in office space and dry storage, so it's already been approved, and now we just got to get it built, you know.
[15:40] I saw the pad, but I didn't realize that you were extending the back of that building out.
[15:45] Yeah, there was, I wish I had a hidden camera with me on this project. I could do a documentary on HBO.
[15:51] There's a lot of like crazy things that we've worked through, but the best thing is, like for God's grace, we were able to build this structure in the back, which would have disrupted this whole type of project, thanks to the owner of the space.
[16:03] He's allowed us to do that so we can function without that space that can't function, you know, so he's been gracious enough to allow us to do it, and now we've just got to build it.
[16:11] The support beams are actually laying on top of the concrete pad right now, that needs to be installed, and get that building erect, and get it rolling.
[16:18] Okay, thank you.
[16:20] Do you need anything else?
[16:22] No, no problem.
[16:24] We've got a lot going on.
[16:26] Just another day of paradise.
[16:28] Okay, hearing closed.
[16:30] Thank you guys.
[16:32] Okay, thank you. Good luck.
[16:34] Okay, the next portion of this meeting will not be recorded or available online, and we are going to shut down the mics and the video.