Quincy's Clubhouse applies for liquor license in Gaithersburg

Quincy's Clubhouse has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. Its hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2024. The newest addition to the local Quincy's chain has been under construction for several months at 245 Kentlands Boulevard in Gaithersburg. It will fill the space vacated by Not Your Average Joe's.

MD Retailers Association revives effort to allow beer, wine sales in Maryland grocery stores

MRA poster inside Harris Teeter

One of the biggest shocks to the system many new residents of Montgomery County experience, is the moment they learn they cannot purchase beer or wine at their local grocery store or convenience store. They quickly become familiar with Montgomery County's government monopoly on alcohol sales, and the archaic liquor laws of MoCo and Maryland. Restaurateurs and retailers frustrated with the status quo that reduces the profit margins of their businesses - and puts them at a disadvantage when competing against their rivals in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia - made a push to change these laws in the last decade. The effort ran out of steam when no significant media campaign or financial contributions were employed to directly boost the candidates for office who would vote to overturn the Prohibition-style system.

Now the Maryland Retailers Association is reviving the campaign with a new website, and posters such as the one seen above this week in County supermarkets. There is a lot of information and data on the website. It has an easy way to contact your elected officials to encourage them to modernize our liquor laws. Whether the effort will be any more successful than the last remains to be seen.

If the MRA and business owners don't write fat checks to the candidates who will vote to change the laws, and won't publicly endorse those candidates and send glossy mailers with a list of their names to every voter, the campaign will fail again. Most of the articles linked to on the website are from media outlets who strongly support the incumbents and candidates who favor and will preserve the ossified government liquor monopoly we have now. That's not exactly a smart way to propagandize the public in favor of liquor reform, folks.

Former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich was prophetic about many things. He was savagely pilloried by local officials and the media during his time in office for supporting casinos and bus rapid transit. Both later became policy cornerstones of the Montgomery County and Maryland political machines of his most-venomous opponents. One other thing he used to say that has aged very well: Until business owners "get dangerous," and actually back candidates - Democratic, Republican, Green, independent - who will vote their way, nothing will change. The MRA has a nice website. But their campaign doesn't sound very "dangerous" yet.

Oak Barrel & Vine construction update in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress on Oak Barrel & Vine at Gaithersburg Square. Signage has been installed outside. Inside, shelving and displays are being constructed. Oak Barrel & Vine is the Montgomery County government liquor monopoly's latest effort to present itself as a private business, while maintaining its archaic monopoly on alcohol sales in the county. Cosmetic changes can't mask that common, mass-produced items like Jack Daniels & Coca Cola RTD can't be found in their stores.

Oak Barrel & Vine signage installed at Gaithersburg Square (Photos)

Signage for Oak Barrel & Vine has been added to the main Gaithersburg Square sign along MD 355. The brand is an attempt by the Montgomery County government liquor monopoly to look more like a private business. Try telling that to customers who can't find major releases from the world's biggest brands, like a widely-advertised limited-edition Budweiser beer or the Coca-Cola branded Jack Daniels cans in these government stores. The new concept will have more locally-produced items, a large tasting room and event space, queue lines for a faster checkout process, and a "safe and inviting environment." It is anticipated to open this spring.

Montgomery County government liquor stores stop selling Russian vodka

The Montgomery County government monopoly liquor stores have stopped selling Russian-made spirits, the County announced in a press release on Sunday. Since the County is the only entity that can sell liquor in the jurisdiction, it is an effective ban on the sale of all imported Russian liquor products in Montgomery County "until further notice." The County statement indicated the move was "[i]n solidarity with the people of Ukraine."

Shortly after the ban was issued, individual Montgomery County establishments began announcing they were dropping Russian vodka from their cocktail menus. Montgomery County-operated liquor stores will continue to sell alternative vodka brands such as Smirnoff (manufactured in Illinois, despite the name), Ciroc, Tito's, Absolut, Svedka, Grey Goose, SKYY, Ketel One, and New Amsterdam, the County press release said.

Photo courtesy Russian Standard Vodka

Montgomery County hopes to reopen Poolesville liquor store today, reducing hours at all County liquor stores

The Montgomery County monopoly liquor store at 19710-D Fisher Avenue in Poolesville has been closed for two days, due to a staffing shortage. County officials said yesterday that they are hopeful the store will be able to reopen today, Wednesday, January 12, 2022. However, staffing shortages across the entire government monopoly liquor operation will require reduced hours at all County liquor stores starting today, as well. Sunday hours will remain the same, but all stores will operate from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Monday-Saturday, until further notice.

BurgerFi applies for liquor license at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg

Construction continues on BurgerFi at 5 Grand Corner Avenue at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. Other preparations for the gourmet burger restaurant are also advancing. BurgerFi has applied for its liquor license from Montgomery County. A hearing on its application has been scheduled for December 16. 2021.

Goshen Crossing Liquor & Wine store closes after employee tests positive for Covid-19

Montgomery County has closed its government-owned Goshen Crossing Liquor & Wine store at 20004 Goshen Road after an employee tested positive for Covid-19. The employee last worked in the store on Saturday and exhibited no symptoms at that time, County officials said this morning. 

Due to other employees now having to quarantine until test results come back, the store does not have sufficient staff to operate, and must close temporarily. If any of those tests are positive, officials said, the store will be deep cleaned by a "specialized team" that will use chemical fogging and manual wipe-down of all products and surfaces.

Muddy Branch Montgomery County liquor store reopens

The Montgomery County government liquor monopoly liquor store at 866 Muddy Branch Road has reopened. It closed January 29, after an employee tested positive for Covid-19. During the closure, a specialized unit performed a deep cleaning and sanitization of the store, which included cleaning all surfaces and products and fogging with specialized machines.

RanKen Noodle House applies for liquor license at Kentlands

RanKen Noodle House is moving closer towards opening day at Kentlands Market Square in Gaithersburg. The ramen restaurant has applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. Their hearing is scheduled for November 19, 2020 at 9:30 AM.

Armed robbery at Montgomery County Liquor store in Germantown

An armed robbery was reported at the Montgomery County government-owned liquor store in Germantown last Sunday. The store at 20680 Seneca Meadows Parkway was robbed Sunday evening at 6:07 PM, according to crime data. A gun was the weapon employed in the robbery.

Gaithersburg restaurant facing punishment from MoCo after alleged liquor violations

Montgomery County's Board of License Commissioners is summoning the owners of Hibachi Sushi Supreme Buffet in Gaithersburg to a hearing on October 17. The holders of the restaurant's liquor license are being asked to explain why commissioners should not penalize, fine, or entirely revoke the license, in light of the alleged violations of County liquor laws.

Fines can be up to $20,000, and the board can suspend or revoke a license. If a license is officially revoked, the licensee cannot again hold a liquor license in Maryland.

MoCo threatens residents: Keep government liquor monopoly...or else! (Photos)

Signs tweeted by
Justin Fidler

Montgomery County's political machine is in full panic mode as public opposition to the County government's monopoly control of liquor increases in volume. Punches are being thrown, and landing. But new government signs print at taxpayer expense are threatening those very taxpayers with "sky is falling" outcomes and punishments should the unwashed masses dare to boot Big County Government out of the liquor business at the ballot box this November. This follows another taxpayer-funded propaganda campaign to maintain the monopoly that I reported on just yesterday.

The County is even using schoolchildren as human shields, threatening to derail construction projects at Walt Whitman, Pyle, Ashburton, East Silver Spring, Greencastle, Montgomery Knolls, Pinecrest, Piney Branch, Woodlin, Christa McAuliffe and Col. E. Brooke Lee if voters reject the government liquor monopoly. This even as many of the same elected officials are clamoring to approve classroom-busting, high-density development in those same school clusters in the coming months. Oops.

What else will happen if you pursue your quest for better beer and wine lists, and the right to purchase Bud Light at CVS?

"Liquor stores on every corner," thunders the sign. 

Here's a good one - the monopoly actually touts its authority to keep certain liquor products it arbitrarily decides are a little too wild for you, the heavy-tax-paying adult, out of your hands. Boasting of its "power to exclude" certain products - now there's a heckuva way to convince residents that this is a good system. Just what we want: less choice, right?

They also made another gaffe in the process - they state that Montgomery County is only the second-best jurisdiction in Maryland when it comes to alcohol abuse and drunk-driving accidents. So we're not the healthiest in America, as our elected officials boasted? No, not even in the state, according to the County's own propaganda.

Councilmember George Leventhal tussled on Facebook with restaurateur Roberto Pietrobono (Gringos & Mariachis, Olazzo), who asked, "At what point in time would you be fed up if you were in our position as restaurant owners? For me it's been 15 years." Leventhal replied that he hoped the proposed "special orders" change would solve Pietrobono's woes.

Alas, as regular readers here already know, the "special orders" plan won't do that. It will allow the Department of Liquor Control to retain the power to declare which products are special order. It will allow the DLC to levy a tax on those new private liquor transactions, which as anyone who knows about business realizes, will raise the cost of product for consumers and hospitality businesses (of course, the County Council is not known for its vast knowledge of operating businesses). How does that make Montgomery County competitive with the District again?

Are you smart enough to decide the fate of liquor control in Montgomery County?

According to the Sentinel newspaper, Councilmember Leventhal says you aren't. Of Leventhal's opposition to a ballot referendum on the issue, the Sentinel reported "he did not think voters should decide whether to privatize alcohol because they would not understand how it would affect the county.

Leventhal posted that he thought only restaurant industry insiders were concerned about the County having monopoly control of liquor. But his colleague, Councilmember Hans Riemer, who also favors government retaining monopoly control, recently acknowledged the biggest complaint heard is the inability to buy beer and wine at grocery stores.

It's clear that the people have spoken. Now, will the politicians listen?

As a resident, is your current inability to buy Bud Light or a bottle of chardonnay at Giant, and your being forced to pay more for alcohol than those in the District, really "of little interest" to you?

MoCo Liquor stores hand out flyers to preserve monopoly, days after DLC delivery disaster (Photo)

Flyer being handed out, as
tweeted by Justin Fidler

Montgomery County-operated liquor stores are handing out literature to customers that threatens to raise their property taxes by "$100" if the County's Department of Liquor Control loses monopoly control over booze. The flyers state they have been printed by the County Office of Public Information, which is obviously funded by taxpayer money. What they don't state, is that just days ago, the DLC failed to make scheduled deliveries to restaurants, bars and beer-and-wine retailers at the height of the critical holiday season. More on that in a moment.

Of course, County Executive Ike Leggett has already stated his intention to raise taxes in the next budget, as the County Council's fiscal mismanagement over the last 14 years has created a structural deficit with no end in sight. And, no, raising taxes every year to cover ever-increasing spending is not a responsible record for a public official.

Councilmember Hans Riemer, who has posed as a critic of the liquor monopoly to promote himself through the local media, has ironically ended up defending the current regime along with seven of his colleagues. Roger Berliner, who represents District 1 on the Council, has declined to oppose new attempts to end the monopoly. Delegate Bill Frick - who like Berliner represents Bethesda, where bars and restaurants have been hurt by the current monopoly - has joined Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot in efforts in Annapolis to allow private competition within the county.

The flyer states that the current monopoly "doesn't cost taxpayers a single dime." Well, not only did these flyers cost the taxpayers, but the current County-controlled system requires both consumers and private businesses to pay more for liquor than they would in the District. So that statement is false.

Riemer's compromise, to allow competition for "special order" products, not only conveniently allows the DLC to define which products are "special orders," but would also allow the DLC to levy an arbitrary fee the consumer would end up paying - a tax, in other words. Tax? No wonder Riemer and the Council are for it!

But the flyers are essentially a gaffe for the County liquor regime, as they are being handed out mere days after yet another DLC holiday delivery disaster. As the Seventh State blog reported December 31, a DLC blunder resulted in missed deliveries to restaurants and bars between December 23-29. Don't worry, DLC Director George Griffin assured them, orders would be back on schedule by New Year's Eve. Oh, and there was a little matter of an order backlog... No big deal if you own a restaurant, bar or beer-and-wine store, right? - it's only one of your biggest times of the year during the holidays, after all.

This comes after the DLC was criticized last year for being unable to fill orders for items as basic as Maker's Mark during previous holiday seasons. You can't make this stuff up, folks.

The bottom line is that the vast majority of County residents want government out of the liquor business, the benefits of high-quality retailers in competition with each other, and the simple ability to pick up Bud Light or a $9 wine bottle at the grocery store. Despite odd claims that the state is responsible for the current inability to do the latter, the reality is that requires the same sort of state-level law change in Annapolis that Riemer is seeking for his current plan. The only difference is that our elected officials aren't asking for it. Hmm...why is that?

This is not the first time we as taxpayers have been forced to pay for PR materials promoting a position the majority of residents oppose (Ambulance Fee, Bus Rapid Transit, anybody?). It should be the last.