John McManus addresses the Prince George’s County Liquor Board about opening a new location for his Bethesda-based bar in College Park.

HYATTSVILLE – There’s a new Dog on the block, and with a guarenteed county liquor license, officials said the days when Thirsty Turtle ruled Route 1 are over.

The Barking Dog, a Bethesda-based bar and restaurant planning to take over Thirsty Turtle’s former venue, received unanimous approval for a liquor license at a Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners hearing yesterday.

Commissioners said they were assured owner John McManus’s business plan — focusing on good food, live music and a community niche that provides much more than just alcohol — could survive the challenging 15,000-square-foot space with a controversial past.

McManus told the liquor board that his potential establishment at 7416 Baltimore Ave. will be a far cry from the Thirsty Turtle, whose license was revoked in November after allegations that the bar was serving underage patrons.

“The difference is that place was never designed to be a restaurant — it was operated as a vomit factory,” McManus said. “We’d like to give the kids something to do besides drink. We’d like to serve good food seven nights a week.”

McManus told the commissioners he has owned the Bethesda bar for 11 years and never had a liquor license violation, noting that he’s owned more than five different restaurants during his career.

Shaihi Mwalimu, vice chairman for the county liquor board, said McManus’s experience, concept and desire to bring a restaurant atmosphere back to the building had him “totally convinced.”

“As long as you continue to focus on the customer, the clients and the neighborhood, I think you will always succeed and give people in the community a reason to participate in what you’re doing there,” he said.

In a 6-1 vote last week, the College Park City Council agreed the Barking Dog would be a welcome addition to the city. Public Services Director Bob Ryan spoke at the hearing on the evolving property lease agreement between McManus and the council — one that involves expensive ID scanners with a memory recognition program, $9 minimum for pitchers of beer, a 50-50 ratio of food-to-alcohol sales, a ban on beer pong tournaments and no cover charge at the door.

McManus said his vision for the space differs greatly from the previous tenant’s, as he hopes to host a wide array of events, from trivia nights to live music to dancing, in addition to establishing a reputation for good food.

“I think people need to step away and stop thinking of that place as the Thirsty Turtle,” Mcmanus said. “I think the city’s going to be very happy with what we do with the space, but it’s going to take some time, it’s going to take some effort and it’s going to take some money.”

Although McManus is still negotiating with the landlord over the space — which he said he hopes to resolve this week — he intends to open the downstairs section in May and the upstairs in the fall.

“The whole downstairs will be seated,” McManus said. “Other than a dance floor, there won’t be anywhere where you can stuff 150 people.”

Some students — such as sophomore communication and marketing major Claudia Fess — said while a different environment could be good for the city, the Barking Dog needs to fill a nightlife void, since three bars have shuttered within six months.

“I think they need to make sure they’re filling the spot that Turtle left — a club atmosphere mixed with live music and a DJ,” she said.

And as for the $9 pitchers?

“I think people just won’t buy pitchers,” Fess said. “Considering it used to be $1 at Turtle, no one’s going to buy a $9 pitcher.”

McManus said he was confident the venue’s other offerings will assuage the pitcher complaint, and many commissioners agreed.

“At first I was kind of wary about the past problems,” said commissioner David Daesok Son. “But hearing your testimony today … I think you clearly identified some of the issues.”

“It seems like we’re well on the way to changing the operation of this particular location,” agreed Chairman Franklin Jackson.

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