Today's Nightlife Photo: Progress at Liam Flynn's Ale House
Liam Flynn, who used to run the Pint-Size Pub, adding a medallion logo to his new, self-titled place on Station North, which I wrote about back in October. Like several other local bar owners, Flynn is using architectural salvage to renovate and decorate the old building. Under wraps since at least last Spring, it looks like Flynn's Ale House is finally coming together.
To see your nightlife and music photos on Midnight Sun, join our flickr pool or e-mail me directly. Photo: Flynn in front of his bar (Jessica M. Beil, via)
Posted by Erik Maza at 5:20 PM | Permalink
| Comments (6)
Categories: Bars & Clubs, Last Night's Photo
Categories: Bars & Clubs, Last Night's Photo
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
What happened to Cuadrado, which was supposed to be across the street from Joe Squared? There is a new green door on that property.
Posted by: Arthur | March 23, 2011 6:56 PM
I think the recession happened. I vaguely remember Joe Edwardsen telling me it was stalled about a year ago.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | March 24, 2011 8:20 AM
I've been told by contractors at SEVERAL bar reconstruction projects in Baltimore that the hold-ups are tied to 1) the requirement for each and every last phase of the reconstruction to be inspected and signed off on by city inspectors (as one from out of state said, "you need an inspector in this city to scratch your [bum]!", and 2) the lack of an adequate number of inspectors to make said inspectors in a timely fashion. Others I have spoken with insinuate that this is the recipe or avenue for graft and bribery.
Liam Flynn's is one of three bar projects in this city that are at least a year behind schedule. Meanwhile, a similar project in Parkville, Racer's Cafe, has come together in mere weeks (a couple months, tops) and should be ready to open soon.
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | March 24, 2011 9:33 AM
Inspectors have always been around, ADM IV. I know it's real easy to blame the gummint for all the world's ills, but I got open when I needed to without greasing anyone's palms.
Frankly, contractors are extremely likely to blame the gummint when they can't get their act together and get a job done in a timely manner. That is an experience that I can attest to. Don't get me started on the sorry state of affairs amongst theBaltimore contractors I have dealt with.
Posted by: Volker Stewart | March 24, 2011 8:24 PM
Yes, Volker, inspectors have always been around, but 1) they supposedly are supposed to inspect more things than ever, and 2) *allegedly* (as per the contractors), many of the city's inspectors were laid off or took retirement, leaving fewer inspectors with an increasing caseload.
There are rumors about that another long-delayed project is the result of disputes between the building's owner, the inspectors, and the contractors over just how much work had to be done--the last time I looked, that building was gutted to the bare walls, and the poor potential bar owner is stuck in the middle with no business to run.
Again *I'm* not the one blaming "the gummint" (specifically, Baltimore City government) about these situations. Others are. It would be interesting to see what would happen if The Brewer's Art had to relocate in 2011, and set up shop again in another location while trying to capture the charm of the old place.
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | March 27, 2011 11:19 PM
I heard from a friend of Joe Edwardsen that the Cuadrado project stalled because the inspectors insisted he pay some amount that he considered ridiculous for a new fire system to replace the current one.
Posted by: Bill Mill | May 9, 2011 7:30 PM