WALDORF, Md. — Questions surrounding alcohol sales and a shared kitchen arrangement dominated a May 14 hearing before the Charles County Board of License Commissioners involving The Creek Sports Bar and Flavor Hive at the former Boston’s Gourmet Pizza location in Waldorf.
The hearing centered on whether The Creek Sports Bar operated under Boston’s existing liquor license before the transfer was officially approved by the board, along with broader concerns about how the two proposed businesses would legally operate from the same property.
During the hearing, Vice Chairperson Michelle Jones questioned Marc Potter, an associate county attorney with the Charles County Office of the County Attorney, about the business operating without authorization.
Attorney Sue Greer told the board she believed her April 7 request submitted to the county seeking temporary operating approval while the transfer process moved forward had effectively been accepted through ongoing email communications. However, board members later clarified no formal approval had been granted because the request was never voted on during a public meeting.
Potter told the board it was his understanding that The Creek Sports Bar was not licensed by the board and that “the sale of any alcohol will be a criminal matter.”
Potter then cautioned against discussing the issue publicly in greater detail.
“I would really try to avoid discussing at this juncture,” Potter said.
Jones then shifted the discussion to the timeline surrounding when the business was instructed to stop alcohol sales.
Greer explained she received an email from liquor board attorney Zhypar Beishenalieva at approximately 5:15 p.m. on May 6 but did not see it until later that evening.
“And it was at 5:15 in the evening,” Greer said. “I saw it at 7 o’clock that evening and immediately made a call, and everything stopped.”
After Greer explained the timeline, Jones halted the discussion following Potter’s warning against discussing the matter further publicly.
Board members later entered closed session to receive legal advice before returning to vote on several motions connected to the businesses.
After returning from the closed session, board members approved closure of the business for more than 10 consecutive days during renovations and extended Boston’s existing liquor license through June 11 to allow the transfer process to continue.
However, board members denied the request allowing The Creek Sports Bar to continue operating under Boston’s liquor license before the transfer is officially approved.
Attorney Says Past Practices Led To Confusion
Throughout the hearing, Greer repeatedly argued the business owners believed they were operating appropriately while the liquor license transfer remained pending.
“We thought we followed the rules,” Greer said. “There was a miscommunication. As soon as we learned that, we immediately took action because our goal has always been to follow the rules.”
Greer told the board her understanding was based on how similar requests had historically been handled during prior liquor license transfers.
“Because that rule exists and we know it exists to allow businesses to continue to operate because you want to keep them open, you want to keep people employed,” Greer said. “I haven’t done one; I haven’t done a transfer in five years, but in the past that request was always sent to the clerk.”
According to Greer, those requests were typically circulated to board members by email and businesses were generally permitted to continue operating unless objections were raised.
“Email to the board, and you were allowed to continue operating unless someone on the board objected,” Greer said. “We specifically submitted it on April seventh, knowing that the board was meeting later that week and anticipating that the board would have that in front of them.”
However, board officials later clarified the request missed the required 10-day deadline to be formally placed on the April agenda.
Board clerk Melody Weschler then walked Greer through the board’s approval procedures, explaining that requests must first be placed on a public meeting agenda and formally approved by the board before any temporary operation can legally occur.
“We do not hold a meeting by email; that’s against the Open Meetings Act,” Weschler said. “I would never have thought to email it to get permission.”
Despite Greer’s belief from ongoing conversations and email exchanges with the county attorney’s office that the request had effectively been accepted while paperwork was being finalized, board officials rejected that interpretation and reiterated no approval had ever been granted during a public meeting.
Throughout the hearing, Greer maintained the businesses were acting in good faith and not intentionally attempting to violate liquor laws.
“This business was not flagrantly trying to flout the laws of this board, the laws of the state of Maryland,” Greer said.
Questions Raised About Shared Kitchen, Business Structure
A portion of the hearing focused on how the two proposed businesses planned to operate from the same property while sharing a kitchen.
The redevelopment proposal would split the former Boston’s Gourmet Pizza location into two separate businesses:
- The Creek Sports Bar and Restaurant, which would serve alcohol and food
- Flavor Hive Restaurant, which would not sell alcohol
Greer explained the original application submitted to the county placed the kitchen under Flavor Hive Restaurant Group LLC.
Greer explained the county attorney’s office raised concerns about the original shared facility agreement because the kitchen was initially placed under Flavor Hive Restaurant Group LLC instead of The Creek Sports Bar.
“The county attorney’s office expressed concern to make sure that we were under the correct license and to understand the difference between the Flavor Hive and The Creek Sports Bar and Restaurant,” Greer said.
According to Greer, the county attorney’s office questioned whether the arrangement gave The Creek Sports Bar sufficient control over the kitchen to satisfy liquor licensing requirements.
Greer said ongoing discussions with both the county attorney’s office and the health department ultimately led the businesses to restructure the arrangement so The Creek Sports Bar would directly manage the kitchen instead.
Greer said The Creek Sports Bar has since obtained the required health department permit for the kitchen and updated agreements reflecting those changes were being prepared for resubmission to the board.
Greer also emphasized that the businesses themselves would remain physically separated and alcoholic beverages would not be permitted between the two establishments.
“You will not be able to get from The Creek to the Flavor Hive without going outside,” Greer said.
Board members raised concerns because they had not yet reviewed updated floor plans and supporting documents.
Greer acknowledged the revised application package had not yet been formally resubmitted to the board at the time of the meeting.
“And you haven’t seen it because you haven’t seen the application, but you’ll have a copy of the floor plans, which is required of the application, so that you can see that layout,” Greer said.
According to Greer, the original application had previously been returned because required documents and supporting materials were incomplete, preventing it from being placed on the board’s May agenda.
However, Greer said the corrected application materials and updated agreements were already prepared and ready for resubmission ahead of the deadline required for placement on the June 11 hearing agenda.
Board Members Push Back On Process Complaints
Greer also challenged several board procedures during the hearing, arguing the temporary operating process should better accommodate businesses trying to avoid lengthy shutdowns during ownership transfers and renovations.
Jones emphasized every liquor license holder in Charles County must follow the same procedures.
“Everybody has to follow the same rules so that the playing field is even,” Jones said.
Board Chairperson Matthew Darden later echoed those concerns while explaining the board’s decision.
“We don’t necessarily want to penalize the business,” Darden said. “We want them to be able to transfer the license, but I feel like, again, the rules are clear. Documentation was sent, but approval was not given to operate.”
Darden also noted during the meeting that “Boston was closed and technically, the license is dead.”
Businesses Plan To Continue Moving Forward
Despite the board approving the businesses’ continued closure for renovations and extending Boston’s existing liquor license through June 11 for transfer purposes, board members denied the request allowing The Creek Sports Bar to continue operating under Boston’s liquor license before the transfer is officially approved.
“Well, we’re obviously disappointed in the last motion, but we look forward to seeing you on June 11,” Greer told the board. “And I would ask the board to give some consideration to some of my concerns about your rules with respect to the operation of businesses.”
Following Greer’s comments after the board’s vote, Jones reiterated the board’s position.
“The rules are there to be followed, and they weren’t really followed very well on this one,” Jones said.
In a statement provided to The BayNet by the owners, The Creek Sports Bar said renovations remain ongoing and the business hopes to reopen in June.
“A letter was sent to the Liquor Board on April 7, 2026, notifying them of the pending sale on April 24, 2026, and there were follow-up conversations with the County Attorney’s Office,” the statement said.
“The Creek has always sought to comply with all rules and regulations and, as an example, we have been working diligently with the Department of Planning & Growth Management and the Health Department to meet all requirements.”
“We are excited to be back before the board on June 11 and bring The Creek Sports Bar & Restaurant to Charles County. Operating next to The Flavor Hive only adds to the excitement. The community response and support for both venues has been incredible.”
The BayNet also reached out to Flavor Hive regarding the status of its food truck operations and whether the business plans to return to the Waldorf site before The Creek Sports Bar reopens, as the food truck has not recently been operating at the location. The BayNet is awaiting a response.
Watch the full May 14, 2026, Charles County Board of License Commissioners meeting on CCGTV.
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