The Towson Patch reported in March 2013 that the Charles E. Brooks Law Offices in Maryland plans to petition the Baltimore County Liquor Board to not allow a request for license renewal from the Recher Theatre.
The law firm is bidding to halt the Recher Theatre, a concert venue, from becoming a nightclub. The concert venue is closing, with plans to become the Torrent Nightclub, stated co-owner Brian Recher to The Baltimore Sun in February 2013. The venue has “The Last Hurrah!” concert scheduled for March 31, 2013. “The Last Hurrah!” is going to be an evening with local artists, including Andy Belt, Burning Rosewood, Evan Michael, Hectic Red, Oh The Story, Rob Fahey & Pieces, and Monday Night Social Club band. When the concert venue closes, The Rec Room, a bar and restaurant, will be part of the nightclub.
The plans to become a nightclub created immediate controversy from Baltimore County Councilman David Marks. Marks defended the Recher Theatre in 2012 and to the Towson Patch he was not aware of the transition to the nightclub. He said to the Towson Patch he was “extraordinarily disappointed” the Recher Theatre was transforming.
The Law Offices of Charles E. Brooks will try to prevent the concert venue from transforming its format to a nightclub. The Recher Theatre is attempting to renew a liquor license that expires on April 30, 2013. The expiration is similar to the expiration for other Baltimore County liquor licenses. The law firm will try to stop the transition by requesting the license not be renewed.
One of the law firm’s practice areas deals with liquor licenses. Since 1964, Charles E. Brooks has practiced law. Brooks takes on cases in family matters, personal injury, and entity creation. For the last 40 years, he has represented restaurants and hotels in Maryland before administrative bodies such as the Boards of Liquor License Commissioners.
The law firm advertised in the Towson Times requesting individuals who are against the plans of the Recher Theatre to transform to speak up, reported the Towson Patch.
When the Recher Theatre made public its plans to close the concert venue at the end of April 2013, and to reopen later in 2013 as a nightclub, some Towson residents were concerned about the idea of DJ acts and electronic music. When the law firm files the petition, the Baltimore County Liquor Board will set a hearing on the liquor license renewal.
Maryland is unique with respect to liquor licenses. Maryland is made up of 23 counties and Baltimore City (24 subdivisions). All alcoholic beverage licenses must be issued according to Maryland law. The alcohol selling process also involves entities complying with the Rules and Regulations of the 24 subdivisions in Maryland, where the entities operate.
Each of the 24 jurisdictions has a Board of Liquor License Commissioners appointed. Each Board acts according to state law. At the same time, each Board has the right to create its own rules and regulations. In some situations, the rules and regulations of the jurisdictions are codified.