NORTH BEACH, Md. — Longtime Huntingtown resident and local Realtor Chrystal Watson Dove pitched her business plan to the North Beach Planning Commission at the Aug. 28 meeting. Dove hopes to launch a business called Whispers Speakeasy, as a bar and multi-use space. At this particular meeting, Dove was requesting a change of use designation to be able to continue with her application to use the space as a tavern and sought approval on parking plans.
Dove said she imagined a space that included wraparound couches, a stage and a bar. She had designed the space so that it could host family-friendly events during the day, either on the indoor stage or the outdoor patio, with a curtain covering the bar area. At night, Whispers would convert to a bar. She also indicated interest in being able to rent out the space for private events.
Initial drawings include a patio space, stage with a projector, on-site parking and a cigar bar. Whispers does not plan to serve food or have on-site food preparation, but will allow food from local restaurants. Other bars in the area have similar arrangements.
Nightlife offerings could include comedy shows, karaoke nights and more, utilizing the stage.
Planners and community members both raised questions about Dove’s multi-use vision — while innovative, they were concerned about how well the site plan mapped out all the possibilities. One resident also was concerned about how the local restaurants, like Hook & Vine and Vaughn Cheese, would be able to continue to provide food to outside establishments.
“They have small kitchens, and don’t have the ability to scale,” she said, and urged Dove to think realistically about food offerings.
When asked why she wanted to open a speakeasy when she also wanted a family-friendly community space, Dove said she wanted to honor the legacy of the old antique store in the space while adding more options for kids and families. And the ideas for families are certainly unique; Dove talked about reptile shows and animal petting zoos on the patio, as well as family karaoke or movies.
The Planning Commission urged Dove to create as much on-site parking as possible and to create plans to scale before proceeding. They said that they needed to see an updated site plan that helped them understand the occupancy, parking, patio, sightlines and more before approving the change of use or the parking plans.
“It’s a great idea, there’s a lot of mixed use, we’re just not sure about feasibility as it stands,” one of the commissioners said before the vote.
Dove will be able to resubmit her materials for a later meeting. It’s not uncommon for businesses to submit several drafts before moving onto the next phase.
Residents of North Beach have been invested in what goes in the space since the building was sold in 2022. When past occupant Elise’s Market was preparing to open, North Beach community members followed the business closely. Prior to the Aug. 28 meeting, a Whispers Speakeasy graphic made the rounds on Facebook, adding to the speculation. Hopefully residents will know soon who’s coming to 9131 Bay Ave., and better yet, when.
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It’s about time that we get something in the area that you can use for so many versatile experiences. Can’t wait to see what amazing events this brings.