The community associations of Hampden and Medfield are opposed to any more liquor stores, even one that's known as upscale and is already in the area.

Wine Underground, a well-established wine store that also does wine tastings, wants to relocate from 4400 Evans Chapel Road to the nearby Green Spring Tower Shopping Center at 1020-1040 W. 41st St., where the ailing Blockbuster chain closed a video store on July 18.

Wine Underground wants to move into part of the former Blockbuster space, but the 17-year-old shopping center is zoned as a Planned Unit Development. The PUD, which has long banned liquor stores there, would have to be amended by the Baltimore City Council. Council member Mary Pat Clarke of the 14th District, who represents the area, said she will introduce legislation to amend the PUD only if surrounding neighborhoods give it their blessing.

So far, Medfield and Hampden are opposed, said Richard Kaminski, who chairs the Zoning and Land Use Committee of the Medfield Community Association.

The association voted July 5 to oppose any amendment to the existing ordinance that would allow a liquor store at the strip mall, Kaminski said.

The Hampden Community Council board voted unanimously July 12 to support Medfield's opposition, Kaminski said.

"We expect similar positions from other surrounding communities as discussions gain momentum," he said.

Yet to weigh in are Hoes Heights and Rolden. Both communities were represented at a June 29 meeting of the Hoes Heights Improvement Association where Mark Manzo, whose family owns the shopping center; and Rakeesh Patel, who owns the wine store, presented their plans. Manzo said he plans to lease 3,400 square feet of the 5,000-square-foot space to Patel if the PUD amendment is approved.

Manzo said he is seeking another tenant for the remaining 1,600 square feet.

That would more than double Wine Underground's existing space, Patel said.

The Hoes Heights Improvement Association plans to take a formal position at its next meeting, which has not yet been scheduled, said association President Lydia Wilson.

"We haven't reached a decision," Wilson said.

When asked what the reaction has been so far, she said, "I think it's split."

Kaminiski said the Medfield community doesn't want a liquor store a block away from Red Fish Liquors, at 4001 Falls Road.

In June, the Baltimore Liquor Board suspended Red Fish's license for six months because the store sold individual beers, which the board ruled was a violation of its agreement with surrounding communities.

The community is also upset that Red Fish won a liquor license transfer by promising the liquor board it would be a wine-and-cheese-oriented store, but it has not been.

Patel said moving to the shopping center would make his store more centrally located and visible, as well as give him more space.

"So far, talking to my customers, they're happy about it," he said.

Manzo, whose family operates the center under the business name LVM, said it would "behoove" the community to have the vacant space filled as quickly as possible and that Wine Underground would benefit from being in a well-lit, security-conscious center with ample parking.

Manzo also said the center is doing "very well" and that the former Blockbuster space is the only vacancy. Other tenants include the SuperFresh, Dunkin Donuts, a nail salon, a Chinese restaurant, a pizzeria and a dry cleaners.

Manzo said he would be amenable to placing restrictions on what the wine store could and couldn't sell, and requiring that at least half of its sales be for wine.

"We're here to work with communities and make them happy," he said. "We hope we can address everyone's concerns."

But Kaminski said, "By amending the law, then lifting restrictions that prohibit liquor stores, you will open the gates to any liquor store at the strip mall."

And he said Medfield is proud that the shopping center prohibits liquor stores, arcades and fast-food restaurants.

"We'd like to keep it that way."

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user comments (4)

user frivkin says...

Please be aware that the views of the Medfield & Hampden Community Associations noted here related to the move do not necessarily represent the views of the residents of the two communities. They definitely don't represent mine. I am part of a group of residents who believe the zoning should be changed and the Wine Underground should be allowed to move. This would benefit the store owners as well as the entire community. I hope that more investigation will occur before the move is shot down.

Posted 11:18 AM, 07.22.10

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user ccabales says...

I was at the 7/5 "emergency community association meeting", & I do NOT see how 5 votes at a last-minute meeting, & 60 questionable emails/letters constitutes all of Medfield!!! I can also tell you that several residents who originally opposed the zoning change agreed that had they known that the zoning change was with regards to the Wine Underground & not a "net new" liquor store, they would NOT have opposed it, & would in fact have supported it. I know that residents have raised concerns about the MCA Zoning chair claiming that the community at-large opposes this, especially when this issue has not been brought forward for the discussion by the community at-large.

Posted 12:57 PM, 07.22.10

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user cathro says...

I own my home and live in Hoes Heights--which is where the Green Spring shopping center is actually located. MCA does not speak for me, and apparently (with an "emergency meeting" on July 5--called on July 3--when many folks were out of town) it does not speak for many of its own residents. I support the zoning change. Wine Underground is an excellent neighbor that we should all try to emulate: They are owned and staffed by knowledgeable, friendly oenophiles. They have wine tastings that draw people from Hoes Heights (and beyond), which strengthens neighborhood bonds and thus neighborhood stability. They hand-shoveled Evans Chapel Rd during the blizzards when the city couldn't be bothered to send a plow for days. They carry packages to my car. Yes, I'm a loyal customer--because they've EARNED my loyalty with behavior that I'd wish for in any neighbor.

Posted 1:30 PM, 07.22.10

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user ccabales says...

In addition: there have been arguments against a wine store in a shopping center. However, residents in favor of the zoning change agree that a commerical location would make more sense than the current residential setting, & point to the success and added value of similar shopping center and wine store relationships in other communities.

Posted 2:19 PM, 07.22.10

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