The city of College Park decided last night to pursue legal action against Santa Fe Café owner Mark Srour to try and force him to install a sprinkler system at his bar.
Srour had signed a contract with the city more than five years ago promising to install a sprinkler system by March 2006 but later said it would be too expensive to do so.
But after more than two years of delays, he told the city earlier this summer he would report to them yesterday to either say he would be installing a sprinkler system immediately or explaining his lease for the property had not been renewed.
A divided council had agreed to give Srour some additional time to come back with an answer on whether he would honor the contract, but its patience ended when he did not appear at last night’s council meeting, asking Public Services Director Bob Ryan to pass along a request for another two weeks.
“Start the proceedings, Mr. Mayor,” District 2 Councilman Jack Perry said instantly. Perry has long been critical of the city’s long-term acceptance of Srour’s noncompliance on his property-use agreement.
“I think we’re hearing more excuses and more delays,” said District 1 Councilman Patrick Wojahn, who had been in the minority at the city’s last meeting with Srour in saying he had already been given enough time to decide to install the system.
Several other council members quickly agreed, informally authorizing city attorney Suellen Ferguson to file a formal contract dispute.
Srour could not be reached for comment last night.
In other downtown bar news, a small fire occurred in Cornerstone Grill and Loft this weekend, Ryan said. Though Prince George’s County Fire Department Spokesman Mark Brady said he did not receive any calls over the weekend about a fire in Cornerstone, Ryan said “there was a lot of vandalism in addition to the fire.”
Though Ryan said Cornerstone will be shut down for two to three weeks for restoration and repairs from the fire and vandalism, a sign on Cornerstone’s door Wednesday afternoon from “Management” informed patrons “the loft will reopen at 5 p.m. on the 6th. Please visit Santa Fe during this time. Sorry for any inconvenience.”
holtdbk@gmail.com
