MORGANTOWN — A new restaurant, an existing pub and grill looking to expand its menu and an existing bar with new, but familiar, ownership all had business this week before the Morgantown Board of Zoning Appeals.
And all that business pertained to the sale of liquor. More specifically, it all pertained to the city’s “restaurant, private club” designation.
According to city code, a restaurant, private club is a business that can serve liquor (granted it’s provided a liquor license from the West Virginia ABCA) but must have a “principal purpose” of serving meals on its premises.
Previously, the city required such businesses provide quarterly reports proving at least 60% of sales came from food and non-alcoholic drinks, but city council voted to suspend enforcement of that regulation in January, around the time it became known Primanti Bros. was coming to High Street.
Even so, getting a restaurant, private club designation in the city’s B-4 (general business) or B-1 (neighborhood business) districts requires a conditional use approval from the city’s BZA.
The board granted that approval for Luis Neira and El Pollon, a Peruvian chicken-focused restaurant coming to 250 High St.
Neira explained this will be Morgantown’s third El Pollon location, but the first that will offer alcohol.
Nick Marie is the building’s owner and proprietor of Buddy’s Bud Co., which occupied that storefront before moving to 444 High St.
He said the businesses at that location prior to Buddy’s — The Fondue Factory and Morgan’s High Street Diner — had liquor licenses.
“I, personally, feel and think it could be a great addition to the city to have not just another restaurant, but a restaurant where you can sit down, dine and have a drink,” he said.
The board did not grant the restaurant, private club designation for ownership of the High Street Canteen Pub & Grill, at 514 North High St., but left the door open for future consideration.
The business is currently designated as “restaurant/private wine,” meaning it can serve food, beer and wine but no booze.
The body ended up tabling the request after it was explained the building’s maximum total occupancy — meaning staff and customers — is 49, according to the fire marshal. To receive the conditional use permit, the business must have a seating capacity of at least 50. The current seating capacity is 38.
The board suggested the applicant work with the fire marshal to clarify capacity numbers and potentially explore new seating arrangements.
“I wouldn’t be surprised that you can get where you need to be relatively easily. It’s just the fact that you have to get there,” BZA member William Plyler said.
Lastly, the board approved the transfer of the restaurant/private club conditional use permit from Mountain Mama’s Tavern LLC to the business’s new owner, Johnny Dollar, LLC.
John Gentile, who owned The Back Door in downtown Morgantown for three decades, is taking over Mountain Mama’s, located at 1137 Van Voorhis Road.
“I’m primarily taking over the business,” Gentile said. “Basically, nothing is going to change. All the same employees are staying on with me.”
