It’s not owned by Steve Francis. It’s not a 9:30 Club in College Park. But adding sprinklers to Santa Fe Cafe will be enough for the city council.
Bar owner Mark Srour announced big plans earlier this summer, but the updated proposal he presented to the College Park city council Tuesday included a much-needed sprinkler system, but not many other big changes.
Srour, who also owns The Mark and Cornerstone Grill and Loft, announced to the council that he has been working on a deal with partners and is hoping to sign all the paperwork for a new lease by Friday. Srour declined to comment on the identity of his new partner.
He also said he is meeting with construction people to execute his plan “to give [Santa Fe] a new face lift,” but that he was not looking to change the operation of the bar. He did say that he may change the bar’s Southwestern theme.
The latest proposal includes plans for new flooring, fresh paint, the construction of a third bar and the addition of a sprinkler system. These small changes seem to abandon the idea to make the bar more of a band venue like the 9:30 Club in Washington, which Srour said in May was his plan.
“I couldn’t see that there’s anything in here that really substantially changes the inside [of the bar],” District 2 Councilman Bob Catlin said.
The city council was more concerned about whether Srour would comply with their demand for the sprinkler system, which the owner insisted was no longer questionable. He said the sprinklers would be installed in Santa Fe as soon as the lease is finalized and would be completed by September.
“The sprinkler system is a must,” Srour said.
Srour said without a sprinkler system included for Santa Fe in a new lease with his potential partner, he would “walk away” and not remain owner of the bar. He admitted a sprinkler system for The Mark may not come as quickly, but said it was in his future plans.
“I have a good feeling that The Mark will be sprinkled as well,” he said.
Student Government Association City Council Liaison Jonathan Sachs said he was disappointed in Srour’s proposal as compared to previous plans.
“It seemed Santa Fe was getting a face lift,” he said, “but now it doesn’t seem like that’s the case. It doesn’t look to me like it’s going to be a major renovation.”
Sachs also was concerned about not having a sprinkler installed in both Santa Fe and The Mark, and said if something were to happen, everyone would look back in retrospect and regret it.
If the Santa Fe sprinklers are included, Srour said he expects the deal to be complete by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. There was no mention of former Terrapin men’s basketball player and NBA All-Star Steve Francis, whom Srour had said in May he was negotiating with as a potential part-owner and investor in the bar.
“I think that fell through,” Catlin said. “It’s something you heard, and then you heard it wasn’t going to happen.”
The city council also seemed hesitant in accepting Srour’s promise for a sprinkler system in Santa Fe.
“We’ve been hearing this for a while, but it looks like he’s getting closer,” Catlin said. “He doesn’t have the lease yet. Unless he has the lease, it’s never a done deal.”
In general, the council is eager to see what will happen next.
“I’m looking forward to his plans coming to fruition,” said District 4 Councilwoman Karen Hampton. “I feel like we’ve been on a roller coaster with regards to the new sprinkler system, but it sounds like he has a new business plan in place.”
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