An Ocean City restaurant’s request for expanded entertainment and carry out sale privileges failed to get the approval of the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners.
Commissioners recently denied requests for the off-sale of beer and wine, more live entertainment and expanded hours for background music from the Wicomico Street restaurant Toast, which is in the Emerson Towers building. The restaurant’s connections said they were seeking the changes to better serve their customers.
“Having a successful business there is not only good for that business but is good for the condominium,” said Pete Cosby, the restaurant’s attorney. “In order for you to have a successful restaurant here you need to have some level of entertainment.”
Mike Berardinelli, owner of Toast, told the BLC his restaurant, which is on the water, already faced challenges in attracting clients because of the lack of parking in the area and the array of noise and activity in the neighborhood. He said he wanted to expand live entertainment because patrons expected it.
“We’re not looking to have bands, we’re not looking to have concerts,” he said. “We’re looking to give people good dinner music. We’re just looking to have that option.”
He said he’d only ever received a noise complaint from one resident of the condo and that only he and his manager were permitted to adjust volume.
Mike must have pissed someone off.