The Rex Restaurant. Photo courtesy Visit St. Mary’s website.
Leonardtown, MD — It could be said that a Leonardtown restaurant’s bar has become a victim of its own success. The St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board (liquor board) is trying to correct the problem.
When the Rex Restaurant on the historic town square opened almost two years ago they secured a restaurant license from the liquor board that allowed them to sell alcoholic beverages along with food. That license limits their liquor sales to 49 percent of the establishment’s total sales.
When the licensee came into the liquor board this year to renew their license they had to report that liquor sales were 54 percent of the total. Restaurant owner Joseph Kurley reported to the board at its Sept. 8 meeting that the bar, since it’s the only one on the town square, has proven to be extremely popular. “It has morphed into an evening place,” he said.
The restaurant has a bar and tables on one side and is more food-oriented on the other side, which was the original entrance into the old Rex Theater. Several restaurants occupied the space before the popular Rex took it over.
Alcohol Beverage Board Administrator Tammy Hildebrand offered the board a solution. She said the restaurant could apply for a Tavern license instead, which would allow them to exceed the 49 percent limit but still serve food. With that option at hand the board quickly and unanimously approved a motion by board member Betty Currie that directed Kurley to apply for that license in order to remain open. The application will be heard at the October board meeting.
The board also approved a change in the establishment’s licensed members. Kurley will remain on the license but the names of Tyron Thomas and Christopher Jeys were replaced by Charles Breck and Daniel Norris.
The issues with the Rex were the only new business on the board’s agenda, leading to an uncharacteristically short meeting.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.,myers@thebaynet.com