The College Park City Council voiced their support of The Board and Brew’s application for a beer, wine and liquor license at Tuesday’s council meeting, citing the cafe’s value to residents and students alike.
The owners of the “board game cafe,” located under The Varsity, will go in front of the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners at an Oct. 28 hearing, when they will have to compete against three other establishments for one available license, said co-owner Ben Epstein. The Board and Brew staff will be able to testify at the hearing that they have the council’s support.
Many council members said the community would benefit if the restaurant, which houses more than 600 board games and a full menu, could serve alcohol.
“We don’t all want to go to bars and hear loud music bumping, but we would like to have a relaxed environment to go have a drink with friends,” District 2 Councilman P.J. Brennan said. “[The owners] have been model entrepreneurs by investing their money in a new and diverse offering.”
Epstein, a 2002 university alumnus, said he plans to offer craft beers, spiked milkshakes and Irish coffee if their application is approved. So far, he said, not having a liquor license has had a negative impact on business.
“We’ve had people come in and say, ‘We want to play games, but where’s your beer?’” Epstein said. “Our name is The Board and Brew, and even though it’s a coffee symbol, people sort of assume. We’ve had people walk out when they heard we didn’t have beer.“
District 1 Councilman Fazlul Kabir abstained from the vote and was the only member who did not voice his support for the license. He said that in light of recent events in which students have been hit on Route 1 while under the influence, he does not think this is the right direction to be going.
However, District 1 Councilman Patrick Wojahn said The Board and Brew is not the type of establishment that poses a safety threat, and the license would simply help the business thrive.
It would also show students that drinking doesn’t necessarily have to lead to getting drunk, District 4 Councilman Alan Hew said.
“This would allow for a great opportunity for young people to be in an atmosphere to witness responsible drinking — not binge drinking or party drinking,” Hew said. “When you’re playing a game, it’s a relaxing type of drinking, not drinking with the objective to get intoxicated.”
The council also voted to support The Board and Brew’s request for an exemption from the Special Entertainment Permit requirement. The exemption would allow people under 21 to remain in the cafe after 9 p.m. on nights entertainment is offered. The Board and Brew plans to host family-oriented events such as game tournaments, trivia nights and open mic nights, Epstein said.
Currently, city businesses that serve alcohol are not able to host students under 21 after 9 p.m. on nights they are providing entertainment.
“I support the exemption for the entertainment license,” said Cole Holocker, student liaison to the City Council. “This is a great option for underage students to have safe and enjoyable fun, and we need to have that opportunity after 9 p.m. to accommodate students’ schedules.”
Epstein said he hopes the license and exemption are approved and that his business is able to fill a void in College Park.
“The type of environment we have here is different,” he said “At least in College Park, pretty much the only options to drink are bars and frat parties, but I think a lot of people want something different.”