BERLIN — The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners approved liquor license requests for three new Ocean City area businesses this week.
The Annapolis-based Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs received liquor license approval from the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC), along with the Full Moon Saloon and Sello’s Oven and Bar.
Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs, which will be located at 221 Wicomico Street in downtown Ocean City on the bayside, received license approval only after tweaking its entertainment schedule in response to concerns voiced by area residents.
“You need to do your best to keep them happy,” BLC Chair William Esham said.
The crab house, which will inhabit the former Bahama Mama’s location on Wicomico Street, was described by attorney Mark Cropper as a restaurant that would cater to those in the neighborhood as well as those coming in by boat to the nearby marina.
“This is a full blown restaurant,” he said.
Although the restaurant’s developers had planned to offer carryout beer and wine sales, Cropper said that after hearing from nearby condominium residents they opted to change their request to one to sell carryout beer and wine only with food purchases.
“We’re trying to accommodate some of the concerns of the neighbors,” Cropper said.
Jack Moore, a resident of the Assateague House condominiums, said he and his neighbors were concerned that straight beer and wine carryout sales would lead to loitering and littering in the area. He said their other primary worry was that the restaurant’s entertainment would keep residents up at night.
Taking that into account, the BLC granted Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs approval for three-piece entertainment outside until 9 p.m. and inside until 10 p.m. From 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. the restaurant can have one-piece, unamplified music.
With no residents in opposition to the next two license requests, the BLC quickly approved plans for the Full Moon Saloon, in the former Station 7 location on Old Bridge Road, and Sello’s Oven and Bar on Golf Course Road.
The Full Moon Saloon, a seafood restaurant proposed by James Farlow and Mike Diffendal, was granted a liquor license with permission for three-piece entertainment six nights a week, video games and a pool table. Attorney Hugh Cropper assured the board that Farlow and Diffendal had extensive restaurant experience and that the new operation would be a full-scale restaurant.
“Don’t be fooled by the name it’s going to be a nice restaurant,” he said.
Cropper also represented restauranteur Pino Tomasello as he presented his license request to the board. Tomasello, known for his work at Fresco’s, plans to open Sello’s Oven and Bar in the former Avery Gallery on Golf Course Road. Sello’s will represent a major downscaling of operations for Tomasello and his wife, Karen, from the larger Fresco’s in Ocean City that is now a Ropewalk restaurant and bar.
“They’ve done extensive renovations, and I think it really looks great,” Cropper said. “It’s smart growth and it’s a great repurposing of an old building.”