La Plata, MD – The memories being made at Memories on Old Washington Road in Waldorf have the Charles Board of License Commissioners (Liquor Board) a little concerned. The establishment was hit with a five-count show-cause order before the Liquor Board’s Thursday, Feb. 9 meeting in La Plata, with violations ranging from serving alcohol after hours to serving alcohol to a minor.
Because the license holder was unaware of the complaints, he is being allowed one month to prepare before he faces the fire.
Liquor Board Secretary Lisa Bailey said there have been multiple complaints. “From January of 2015 until the end of last year, there have been hundreds of calls about fights and assaults,” Bailey told the board. “There was a stabbing in the parking lot.” She said there have been complaints that the business continued to stay open after 2 a.m. in violation of the law and did not procure bottles and containers or quit serving alcohol at that time.
Attorney Kevin Smith said that he was representing Thomas R. Mueller Jr., but that the other license holder, Donald Robert Downing, had not appeared at the hearing.
“Mr. Mueller hasn’t been involved in the business for about 10 years,” Smith said. “He doesn’t really have any knowledge about anything.”
“He is the only one who is appearing,” Bailey replied, and asked Mueller if he was going to contest the charges.
“How can you contest something you have no knowledge of?” he answered. It’s an issue the Liquor Board has seen more and more in recent months: License owners who have no idea what is being done under the license their name is attached to.
“You’re clearly not prepared to proceed today,” Chair Pamela Smith stated, obtaining a motion and a second before taking a vote to continue the matter March 9.
“Be prepared,” she warned.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com