Silver Spring’s future music hall could create an atmosphere of public drunkenness, and one Bethesda lawmaker ain’t having any of it.
State Del William Bronrott (D-16) stalled a vote in Annapolis that would grant the Fillmore its liquor license, The Gazette reported Wednesday. The problem: Drunks stumbling through Silver Spring after a gig could present a road hazard.
“There is a possibility for accidents, and with the county working towards pedestrian safety and safe driving, this is something we do not want to see happen,” Bronrott told The Gazette.
Current law requires a performing-arts venue to have space for at least 2,000 people, plus a dining section for at least 40 people, to qualify for a special liquor license. It’s the same law that allows one venue in Bronrott’s district — Bethesda’s Strathmore music hall — to tap a keg.
A proposed change to the licensing requirements would lower a venue’s minimum head count to 1,000 people, which would allow the Fillmore to qualify, The Gazette wrote. The Fillmore’s capacity will start at around 500 people and will max out at 2,000.
According to The Gazette, an unnamed House of Delegates committee will vote on the proposed change this week.
Bronrott is not the first Bethesda-based politician to voice concern over the Fillmore deal. Last week, county council member Roger Berliner (D-District 1) tore the county exec’s chief of staff a new one over closed-door negotiations with venue operator Live Nation.
Berliner was particularly pissed that the county didn’t holler at Seth Hurwitz, owner of The District’s 9:30 Club and a Bethesda resident, when talks with the Birchmere nightclub collapsed last summer.
“How is it that you could ‘look around’ [for another venue operator] and not pick up the phone and call the number-one concert promoter in the country?” Berliner barked almost rhetorically, never referring to Hurwitz by name.
Despite objections, the county signed a lease with Live Nation in January.
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ARRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!
What is wrong with Montgomery County? The rest of the civilized world has no problem with restaurants and bars in their cities. Why, in some cities you can buy beer and wine and hard liquour in the supermarkets, and those cities still stand, believe it or not.
Seriously, this kind of Prohibition-era nonsense needs to have stake pounded through its heart. Adega Wine Cellars isn’t allowed to serve wine to its outdoor customers; Whole Foods was denied the right to sell beer and wine in part because of concerns that winos would stumble through its parking lot (all those winos who buy their booze at Whole Foods — a plague waiting to happen). And now, a music club that can’t sell booze? It’s enough to make you vote Republican!
I don’t think this will fly, but Mr. Bronrott, if you’re reading this: please Sir, with all due respect: get stuffed.
Roger Berliner (County Council, District-1, which includes Bethesda)
William Bronrott (State Delegate, District-16) of Bethesda
Seth Hurwitz- Bethesda resident
Enough said!
I think it’s a valid point, though.
The Birchmere would have sold alcohol, too, but it’s more sedate crowd probably would have been less likely to stagger through downtown SS drunk, drive through surrounding neighborhoods drunk, etc.
As a middle-aged SS resident with younger kids, I am not excited about a bunch of twenty-somethings descending on SS. They won’t spend any money in restaurants in the area, and they will create noise and traffic problems.
I can’t believe I just said that — I am really ancient. And yet I believe it’s true. A bunch of drunk 25 year olds brings NOTHING to downtown SS.
Northwood, nobody wants an army of drunken 25 year-olds staggering through town, but maybe that fear is exaggerated? I still go to the 9:30 Club, and when it lets out, I’ve not seen hordes of drunks. Thinking back when I was younger, I went to rock clubs with my friends. Maybe we had a few drinks, or broke some anti-drug laws in the men’s room, but all in all, I don’t recall us or most other people staggering out like idiots.
That said, I too prefer the Birchmere, simply because I like the music they get there.
I know what you mean, but the difference was that when I went to 9:30 Club regularly, I took a cab. I know the metro is here, but I bet people drive.
I just want something that’s going to help SS and I don’t see that this will do much.
Oh please, Mr. Bronrott. A lot of people (myself included) drink at bars in Silver Spring (and Bethesda, I might add) and then stumble home or to the metro. Maybe that’s not solid data to support the Fillmore, but since we’re making arguments based on no data at all…
Northwood, you want something that will help Silver Spring… what, exactly? Help Silver Spring become even more of a sanitized urban playground? That’s not a vibrant city, that’s a mall with some street traffic.
Sorry to rant, I’m sure everyone here has good intentions, but this “Please think of the children!” kind of talk makes me roll my eyes.
…and it’s all because your mama don’t dance and your daddy don’t rock & roll.
I’d like to add my unique comments, but frankly, Springvale Roader, you said it perfectly enough. As much as I love our county, some things are just pathetic in politics.
I admit it … I want it a bit sanitized. I am tired of crime. I am tired of loud groups of teenagers on Ellsworth on Saturday night — why would we want to attract more of them?
And I never said “please think of the children,” just said that I have some which probably explains why I don’t go out to the 9:30 Club anymore.
I think it’s possible to have a vibrant, interesting semi-urban neighborhood without having it be downtown DC. I don’t see why interesting restaurants, cultural activities, etc. have to be either soulless chains, but neither do I see why there’s anything wrong with not wanting to attract a bunch of loud, drunk kids who will make me feel less safe and won’t bring anything to the neighborhood — they won’t attract more residents to buy homes here, they won’t bring in more restaurants … nothing.
When I was a kid I lived near Tipitina’s, the famous music club in New Orleans. That was certainly a vibrant semi urban area, and although there were plenty of drunk younger people at Tip’s, there were also middle aged people, families sometimes … it had something for everyone. That’s what I would like for Silver Spring.
As we all know, I’ve never been a fan of the closed door negotiations that resulted in fillmore. But these “wait, no alcohol” arguments are ridiculous. Sure, some people get drunk at shows, but a lot of people go to.. i dunno.. hear the music, go figure. But the vast majority of those “non-drunkards” probably want to be able to get 1 or 2 drinks over the evening still.
As for the “A bunch of drunk 25 year olds brings NOTHING to downtown SS.” Sure the 20% that get drunk at the show don’t, but the 80% that have 1 or 2 drinks sure do. They bring pedestrian foot traffic to downtown at night, which makes YOUR middle-aged walk home from the metro that night you have to work late a whole lot safer. Manhattan is a WILDLY safe place (as far as per capita statistics go) at midnight, and that’s probably 60% attributable to the shear number of people out and about on the streets. They bring business to the local restaurants and bars before and after the show – a ton of business i’d be willing to bet.
I’m not saying it’s worth throwing millions at a multi billion dollar corporation – live nation or any other. But I think saying it brings nothing to downtown is simply short-sighted. With 9:30 club being in such a run down neighborhood, there’s not a good example in DC to point to. But ask local deli’s and bars and restaurants in NYC how business is when there’s an event at whatever club happens to be next door and I’ll bet the answer’s pretty good.
Building on what Paul said, I agree that the more people there are out and about, the safer DTSS will be.
Also, if DeMarcos Italian Deli is smart, they’ll open up a late night by-the-slice window just like they have in Manhattan. They’ll rake in the bucks, big time. Maybe we’ll even get a falafel joint, too.
I can never understand the Byzantine liquor laws in the state of Maryland and in Montgomery County in particular.
1.) I believe that any private business owner has the right to sell liquor, wine and beer.
2.) When I shop at Giant, Whole Foods, Safeway etc., I expect to see an aisle for wine and beer.
3.) I think the Montgomery County will vote to legalize marijuana before they loosen liquor regulations.
Editor’s note: I’ll drink to that! — JD (Feb 8, 2008)
Enough is enough! Shut up already! A delegate from Bethesda trying to determine what’s good for Silver Spring? I’m sorry I was unaware that there were no ‘drinking’ establishments in Bethesda so you certainly wouldn’t have any drunken person stumbling into the street or sidewalk (there are no bars in Montgomery County) The old J.C.Penny site has stood vacant now for 18 years. Far to long a time, time wasted that could have been generating now much needed revenue for our County. Oh did we forget a pending $400 million in deficits? The wonderful ‘Renaissance’ of Silver Spring is not done by any means and we need to press forward with ‘creative growth’. Perhaps Mr. Bonrott’s displeasure is rooted not in ’safety’ concerns but in a well of ‘jealousy’? Silver Spring with a hip, modern, happening ‘Filmore’ (hearkens back to the days of the ‘Dead’, Hendrix, the Band, Dylan, The Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, ‘live at the Filmore) as opposed to the staid and stuffy ‘Strathmore’(actually no offense meant to a great and wonderful facility!). Don’t couch your pettiness, Mr. Bonrott, in ‘public concerns’ speak truthful and respectfully. Your arguments can be ’spun’ any way you like but the web won’t hold any water for me.
IHY – you should just be happy you don’t live in one of the “dry” counties of the Bible belt states or in the vast portions of Midwest where last call is at 10pm. I for one am glad MoCo does not emulate PG Counties drive-thru liquor stores. (How is THAT possibly legal??)
Everybody does it differently across this nation because it is up to the local lawmakers to set the rules – and viva la difference! — if you really care deeply about it – run for office and make a change.
Hey Kathy J, you wrote: “I for one am glad MoCo does not emulate PG Counties drive-thru liquor stores. (How is THAT possibly legal??)” If you find that alarming, try this: down in Louisiana they have drive-thru daiquiri shops. You pull up to the outside counter (like a fast food joint) and inside you can see all these swirling frozen daiquiri machines. There’s maybe 50 different flavors. You pick the one you want, and presto, everyone in the car, and even the driver, is given a big frozen daiquiri. Here’s the rub: if you don’t put the straw through the hole in the lid, it’s not considered an open beverage and hence it’s perfectly legal. When I was down there doing relief work after Katrina, I can assure you that none of us tired, dirty volunteers ever put our straws through those holes. Nope, never, ever, honest.
LOL – Springvale Roader – I have been to New Orleans about 5 times and totally forgot about those dacquiri joints and their “open container” laws. What I never forget though is walking through the Quarter at 10am on the way to meetings and having to walk in the street because all the bar owners, hoteliers, shopkeepers etc. are out there hosing off all the puke from the sidewalks. Aah, the smell memories that brings back!
And yes, I still love that city and am planning another trip back asap.