The long-anticipated opening of Stoney’s at Clarke’s Landing is about to happen. The St. Mary’s Alcohol Beverage Board (liquor board) on Thursday approved a Restaurant license for the building at the end of Clarke’s Landing Road in Hollywood on Cuckhold Creek. It is in the location of the former Clarke’s Landing Restaurant, which moved to Solomons to reopen as the new Lighthouse Restaurant.
Eugenia Cousineaux told the liquor board that she and her husband Phillip Stone, III plan on opening the restaurant the day after Thanksgiving, November 28. She said the process has taken longer than anticipated. “We have put in more money than we thought we would,” she said.
The Stoney’s at Clarke’s Landing will be the region’s fifth Stoney’s, although the first in St. Mary’s. The others are the original on Broome’s Island, Prince Frederick and two in Solomons (Kingfishers and Solomons Pier). She said the menu would be “somewhat similar” to the original location with some variations.
Cousineaux said she is very familiar with operating restaurants on the water and the challenges that brings. She said the screened-in porch familiar to patrons of the old Clarke’s Landing will remain as is.
The liquor board approval for the Class B (Restaurant BWL (Beer, Wine, and Liquor) license was unanimous and contingent on the restaurant getting final approvals from several other agencies.
Also on the agenda for the Thursday meeting were approvals of two repurposing projects for two licensees:
• The current Blue Wind Gourmet on Route 235 in California will move to San Souci Plaza in the former location of Chef’s American Grill and change its name to Elements. It hopes to retain its current customers for a mostly lunch business and also expand into a full service restaurant with dinner fare. Owner Robert Plant says there will be an open kitchen and food will be the entertainment for patrons. He hopes to have cooking classes.
• Twist Wine and Spirits is converting a portion of its space into a lounge to be called The Lime Lounge. Food will be served from the adjacent deli, according to Twist licensee John Winters.
The board also:
• Approved a transfer of license for Cole’s Point Tavern to Ann Rest Hyder. Cole’s Point Tavern is unique in that it is in Virginia many land miles from St. Mary’s County, but because it is over the Potomac River, which Maryland owns, it is technically in St. Mary’s. Attorney Michael Davis also remains on the license as the required St. Mary’s County resident.
• Approved a Class A-1 Beer, Wine and Liquor license for the Holiday Inn and Suites under construction in California just off Route 235. The license is for customers to purchase drinks for consumption in their rooms. Owner Prahladhai Patel said he hopes to be open for business by July.