The end may be near for College Park’s drive-through liquor store.
The county-issued liquor license for Lasick’s College Inn Liquors is set to expire at the end of May, according to city officials who attended a county liquor board hearing for the store last month.
Lasick’s, which operates out of a double-wide trailer on Route 1 just north of University Boulevard, was supposed to be temporary when it opened nearly four years ago. The store’s owners had pitched the facility as a way to earn money while they worked to rebuild their seafood restaurant, which an arsonist destroyed in 2004. In May 2005, they said the restaurant would reopen along with a permanent liquor store and the temporary liquor store would close within a year.
But the restaurant was never rebuilt, and city officials soon began a drumbeat of complaints about the liquor store’s appearance, calling it an eyesore that was holding back their efforts to rebuild and beautify Route 1.
Joe Lasick, who co-owns the store with his father, Sonny, did not respond to calls seeking comment.
City officials thought the trailer was gone two years ago when the property was set to be purchased and redeveloped into a three-story apartment and retail complex. But the economic slowdown led to the project’s cancellation, city Planning Director Terry Schum said.
Despite the long stream of complaints about the trailer’s appearance, city officials didn’t think removing it would have much immediate impact. District 2 City Councilman Bob Catlin, for one, said it fits right in with the other small stores, abandoned buildings and vacant lots in that part of College Park.
“Given all the other eyesores on Route 1, why should we pick on [Lasick]?” Catlin said. “Now he’s just part of the background.”
“Most of the west side of Route 1 from Cherry Hill [Road] down is not particularly attractive,” District 4 City Councilwoman Mary Cook agreed. “However, they were given a certain amount of time to come up with a solution to their problem. So I think the time is just about over.”
But Catlin said while he would like to see the property improved, Lasick’s might as well be able to sell liquor until a better plan emerges.
“Obviously, the property needs to get redeveloped,” Catlin said. “I’m not certain that taking away his license is going to make that happen any faster.”
Schum said the convenient location of the Lasick’s property means developer interest will likely reignite as the economy recovers.
“Everything with Route 1 frontage that’s of significant size inside the Beltway, close to the university, is definitely prime real estate,” she said.
holtdbk@gmail.com
