WALDORF, Md. — A new business is set to take over the former Pasha Lounge space on Old Washington Road, after the Charles County Board of License Commissioners approved a new nightclub beer, wine and liquor license with entertainment for Tropical Lounge during its Aug. 13 hearing.
The license was approved for Guadalupe Perez and Paloma Mendez, operating as Fun Plants LLC trading as Tropical Lounge, and is contingent on the business obtaining health and use-and-occupancy permits and submitting an updated floor diagram to the county. Attorney David Martinez of Jenkins Law Firm represented the applicants before the board.
Perez, who testified at the hearing, told the board he intends to run a community-oriented venue rather than a traditional nightclub.
“Our plan is to have a safe place, nice and clean, to receive everybody from Charles County.”
He testified the business will offer DJ performances, karaoke and live entertainment, primarily on weekends. Perez said he has more than 15 years of experience ordering, selling and serving alcohol, though not previously as the holder of his own license. He testified that the board approved him for a license several years ago for a roller-skating rink on Old Route 5 in Waldorf, but he was unable to complete the required county permitting for that location, and the license was never issued.
Perez told the board he plans to be on site six days a week and expects to hire between 15 and 20 employees, in addition to security staff. Mendoza, who holds TIPS alcohol-service certification, testified she plans to be at the business about twice a week to help oversee compliance.
Building Layout And Capacity
According to testimony, the business will take over the space largely as-is. A room previously used as a VIP area under the former tenant will be converted into a locked storage area for alcohol, a change board members questioned during the hearing. Perez testified any wall separating the space would be added based on guidance from the county and his architect, and that he would be the sole keyholder for the storage area.
The former occupant’s approved capacity was 270 people. Perez testified he anticipates a similar occupancy for Tropical Lounge, pending final county approval.
Proposed hours of operation are as follows:
- Monday through Thursday: 4 to 10 p.m.
- Friday: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Martinez initially requested 60 days for the applicants to secure use-and-occupancy and health permits, then asked the board to extend that to 90 days, citing typical permitting timelines. The board approved the extension, giving the applicants until its Nov. 12 meeting to complete the process.
Site History
The former Pasha Lounge site was also the scene of an arson investigation last year.
Firefighters were dispatched at about 12:30 a.m. Oct. 30, 2025, after an alarm activation and found the front door forced open and a fire burning inside. About 35 firefighters brought the fire under control in roughly five minutes.
Investigators determined the fire started in the humidor room and was intentionally set, with damage estimated at $75,000.
In January 2026, the Office of the State Fire Marshal announced the arrests of Shawn Hill Justice, 37, and Ashley Elizabeth Ellis, 35, who was a Pasha Lounge employee at the time.
Justice was charged with second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, second-degree burglary and destruction of property over $1,000. Ellis was charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree arson and burglary.
Investigators said Justice admitted to setting the fire and said Ellis provided access to the building and helped plan the incident. The alleged motive was linked to a personal relationship. Justice was held without bond, while Ellis was released on her own recognizance.
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