By Danielle Ohl and Michael Brice-Saddler
Town Hall, the historic College Park dive bar and liquor store, is under new ownership.
Ashuta Tandon purchased the establishment and intends to upgrade it to include a new lighted sign, updated decor and an expanded craft beer menu, according to a press release from Coakley Realty, a company that facilitated the sale.
The bar, owned by Joseph Burdoo since 1959, opened in 1949. Ron Burdoo, who worked under his father since age 12, decided to sell Town Hall upon his retirement and move to North Carolina, the release said.
“The owner wanted to retire, but was also passionate about keeping the historic property operating and maintaining its landmark status,” Coakley Realty president Rory Coakley said in a statement. “We were able to find a buyer interested in doing just that, while also excited to improve the property going forward.”
Coakley said Burdoo approached him in February 2015 about selling the bar. Their original idea was to merge with the nearby Campus Village shopping center or the BP gas station next door.
But after several months of trying to make a deal happen, discussions fizzled out, Coakley said.
“We were unsuccessful in getting [Campus Village or the gas station] to come on board,” he said. “In the future, there could be development there, but for now, the new owner will operate the bar as Town Hall.”
Jim McGinnis, who worked as a consultant for Tandon to help her purchase the property, said the proposed changes to Town Hall will help to make it more appealing for both longtime customers and University of Maryland students.
“My first bar beer was in Town Hall. … It’s been there since the beginning of time, and everyone loved it,” said McGinnis, who graduated from this university in 1981.
“They’re going to try to get some students in there,” McGinnis said. “They’re bringing some new electronics in to try and make it a little more fun to be there. … It’s a fantastic institution.”
Several new TVs and a juke box are just a few possible additions to the bar, he added.
Town Hall closed Monday to begin renovations, McGinnis said. Tandon plans to reopen the bar the second week of August.
