The city business owner poised to take control of the now-defunct Lupo’s property said the bar and restaurant is likely to remain closed until August because negotiations with landlords have been slowgoing.
Alan Wanuck, a former city councilman and owner of Alario’s Pizza in North College Park, applied for a liquor license in January, listing “Curley’s Grill” as the future name for the bar and restaurant, which has been closed since winter break. His appearance at Tuesday’s City Council meeting would have been the first major step in securing that license, but Wanuck said he was not prepared to obtain the license because lease negotiations are not complete.
Wanuck laid out a general plan for the future of a bar and restaurant, describing the concept as a “sports bar restaurant” that would fuse elements of an English pub he co-owns in Bethesda with some of Alario’s most popular menu items. Those plans have been set aside, however, as Wanuck entered tense negotiations with a landlord reeling from bad experiences with the previous Lupo’s owners, Wanuck said.
The negotiations have him to sign a “straight 20-year, personal liability lease, if that gives you any idea of my commitment to the project,” he said, as the landlord has extensive concerns about his ability to run a successful business and pay consistent rent.
“The landlord has been very hesitant to go forward with the lease with us because she’s trying to cover herself because she’s worried about what’s going to happen with the lease,” Wanuck said.
Wanuck said a complete overhaul of restaurant design and kitchen equipment would be needed before the restaurant could reopen and he planned on redesigning the second floor of the property for special events.
Because of the lease delay, Wanuck was forced to postpone construction plans because it was unclear when the lease would be signed. His preferred construction firm took another job in the meantime, and Wanuck now projects an August opening.
Wanuck has extensive experience in catering and said the second-floor space could be used for wedding receptions he usually has to host at a rented location. Hosting bands and comedy acts would also be an option, Wanuck said.
A key point of negotiation between Wanuck and city officials will likely be the food to alcohol sales ratio, which was previously set at 60 to 40. Wanuck said he would not be able to continue the previous ratio because it was likely what caused Lupo’s failure. City officials seemed inclined to relax their position, however.
“I’d said publicly that I’d be willing to trade off on the traditional approach of food to alcohol in favor of safety,” Mayor Stephen Brayman said. “I’m interested in the four bars paying for a four-hour window in the late night to cover a need to have special police attention. It’s a unique crowd, and no one else has this many people out and about.”
The council ultimately voted to direct City Attorney Suellen Ferguson to call the liquor board to voice official support for a request to postpone Tuesday’s liquor board hearing. If the request is accepted, Wanuck would meet with the liquor board at their next meeting April 25.
In the meantime, Wanuck would be required to negotiate a concrete deal with the city to obtain a recommendation, something the liquor board strongly considers before approving a license. He would also need to meet with leaders of civic associations to ask for consent.
Contact reporter Kevin Litten at littendbk@gmail.com.
