As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, several Baltimore City businesses have been fined or shut down due to overcrowding concerns or allegations that they improperly served customers indoors.

At city liquor license board hearings, restaurant owners and commissioners alike have repeatedly cited “confusion” about the city and state regulations. Most establishments have been fined between $100 and $200. The health department, meanwhile, has shut down several establishments.

Here’s our running list:

Abbey Burger Bistro in Fells Point - Fined $100 by the city liquor board for allowing individuals to consume alcoholic beverages on-site March 18, before the governor’s executive order permitted it. The owners of the establishment said that they served beers to independent contractors who had come to the restaurant for a business meeting.

Angie’s Seafood - Fined $200 by the city liquor board for allowing patrons to consume alcoholic beverages on-site on May 1, before the governor’s executive order permitted it. The establishment’s owner said the customers were inside waiting for carry-out orders.

Banditos Bar & Kitchen: Shut down by the city health department Nov. 1 over a lack of social distancing, facial coverings not being worn by patrons and staff, and patrons standing and drinking at the bar. The bar reopened on Nov. 2, but was closed again Nov. 6 for similar violations. It reopened again Nov. 7.

Charro Negro Bar & Grill - Fined $150 by the city liquor board for allowing a patron to consume an alcoholic beverage on-site March 19, before the governor’s executive order permitted it. The establishment’s owner said the customer was inside waiting for a carry-out order.

El Rincon Troncaleño - Fined $150 by the city liquor board after inspectors observed that on July 11, the restaurant was more than 50% full, patrons were drinking alcoholic beverages while standing and tables were less than six feet apart. On Oct. 20, the restaurant was fined again by the city liquor board for COVID-19 violations, this time for $800. Inspectors reported that on Aug. 10, the restaurant was offering outdoor dining before it had received the proper permits, and that on Aug. 12, the restaurant was offering indoor dining later than 10 p.m. in violation of the mayor’s executive order. The restaurant owner expressed that one city official had granted them approval to offer outdoor dining, but they hadn’t yet received permission from the liquor board, causing confusion.

Euphoria Night Club - Shut down by the city health department Aug. 3 over a lack of social distancing and face coverings. Reopened Aug. 12.

Fells Point Tavern - Shut down by the city health department Aug. 22 over a lack of social distancing and face coverings. Reopened Aug. 25. The tavern, also known as Kali’s Court, was also fined $200 by the city liquor board for an incident on Aug.15. At that time, inspectors observed a “large number of patrons at the outdoor bar area consuming alcoholic beverages without practicing social distancing.” Many patrons were standing and drinking, and the tables were not six feet apart, inspectors said.

Grand Central: Announced on Sept. 3 that it would close permanently after receiving a summons for violating a restriction against indoor dining – a nail in the coffin of sorts for the bar whose lawyer said was operating on “borrowed time” anyway because of a pending renovation. Inspectors found that 15 patrons were inside the establishment on the night of July 30, when indoor dining was prohibited in the city. The liquor board fined Grand Central $200.

Jano Ethiopian Restaurant & Lounge - Shut down by the city health department Aug. 22 for allowing customers inside and operating an indoor bar after 10 p.m., the mandated closing time according to the mayor’s executive order. Reopened Sept. 1.

Kislings Tavern - Fined $200 by the city liquor board for allowing patrons to consume alcoholic beverages on-site March 18, before the governor’s executive order permitted it. The establishment’s owner said the customers were inside waiting for carry-out orders.

Los Amigos Sport Bar - Fined $200 by the city liquor board for, among other things, allowing individuals to drink alcoholic beverages inside after 10 p.m. on Aug. 13, when the mayor’s executive order prohibited it.

Lust Entertainment - Fined $200 by the city liquor board for overcrowding on July 12, when detectives say there were about 80 people on the second floor of the establishment. Given capacity restrictions, the second floor was limited to 43 people. The establishment’s owner said he was struggling to keep customers from wandering between the first and second floors of the club.

Main Street Bar & Liquors - Fined $800 by the city liquor board on Oct. 20, plus $200 for an issue unrelated to COVID-19. On July 26, inspectors noticed 30 people dining inside the restaurant in violation of the mayor’s executive order, and that the restaurant was offering outdoor dining without the proper permits. On August 15, inspectors returned and determined that the restaurant was still offering outdoor dining without the proper permits. Representatives of the restaurant cited confusion surrounding the permit process, stating that they had received authorization from one city agency, but not the liquor board.

Margaret’s Place: Fined $300 by the city liquor board for an incident on May 13, when liquor board inspectors reported five individuals in the bar “with open bottles of beer in front of them,” which violated the governor’s executive order at the time. The restaurant could not be reached for comment, and did not appear at a virtual hearing Sept. 3.

My Cousin’s Place: Fined $600 by the city liquor board for incidents on Aug. 16 and Aug. 30. On both occasions, inspectors observed that the establishment was over 25% capacity, and individuals were standing and drinking alcoholic beverages.

Noir Restaurant & Lounge - Shut down by the city health department Aug. 28 for allowing customers inside and operating an indoor bar after 10 p.m., the mandated closing time according to the mayor’s executive order. The establishment was also above 25% capacity, and not upholding social distancing, according to the health department. The establishment’s owner said customers were closing our their tickets when an inspector arrived. He had locked the door to prevent any new customers from dining inside, he said, but was unaware that the inside of the restaurant had to be vacant by 10 p.m. The city liquor board fined Noir $200 for this incident. The restaurant reopened Sept. 1. The establishment was closed again by the health department on Oct. 30 for exceeding 50% capacity, allowing customers to walk around without masks, not enforcing social distancing and allowing customers to drink while standing. It reopened Nov. 5.

O’Donnell’s Pub & Grille - Fined $100 by the city liquor board for allowing patrons to consume alcoholic beverages on-site March 25, before the governor’s executive order permitted it. The establishment’s owner said the customers were waiting for carry-out orders.

Restaurante El Salvador - Fined $200 by the city liquor board for serving seated customers on March 17, before the governor’s executive order permitted it. The establishment’s owner did not appear at an Aug. 18 liquor board hearing to defend themselves.

Smiley’s Tavern: Fined $200 by the city liquor board for an incident on May 13. Liquor board inspectors reported seven individuals inside the bar, including the bartender, with open beer bottles in front of them, money on the bar and empty bottles in the trash can. The restaurant’s owner told The Sun that he and some employees were in the bar that evening making minor repairs. There were no open bottles at the bar, the owner said, the money on the counter was for a pizza that had been ordered for the group, and the empty bottles found in the trash can were from before the bar’s closure in March.

Special P’s Bar and Lounge: Fined $100 by the city liquor board after an incident on May 6. That night, a liquor board inspector observed three individuals sitting at a table inside the restaurant, along with “various open alcoholic beverage containers,” which would be in violation of the governor’s executive order. In addition, the individuals were on the bar’s second floor, which was not authorized for that use, liquor board documents read. At a hearing Sept. 24, a representative of the business said the individuals in the establishment May 6 were relatives of the owner, and they had been cleaning the restaurant that evening.

The Charles: Shut down by the city health department Nov. 1 over a lack of social distancing, and because patrons were standing and drinking at the bar. The bar reopened Nov. 2, but was closed again on Nov. 6 for similar violations. Finally, it reopened again Nov. 7.

The Manor: Fined $600 by the city liquor board after an incident on May 31, when liquor board investigators observed a “highly intoxicated” individual outside of the establishment, and several more individuals inside. The liquor board’s report stated that “the bar area was covered with beer bottles, half empty drinks, and empty bottles of alcohol.” The bar’s owner said that the intoxicated individual outside had not come from The Manor, and the individuals inside were all employees helping to prepare the restaurant for its eventual reopening. No patron was served alcohol on the premises, the owner said. $500 of the imposed fine was issued because of an issue with “cooperation.” A city liquor board investigator testified that a bar manager yelled obscenities at here on the night of May 31, demanding that she leave the establishment.

Yemen & Gulf Restaurant - Shut down on Aug. 5 by the city health department for a lack of social distancing and face coverings on employees, for allowing indoor dining when it was restricted and for obstructing a health department employee. Reopened on Aug. 7.

The coronavirus-related case against the following establishment was dismissed by the city’s liquor board:

Shipyard Pub: Case dismissed by the city liquor board Sept. 24 by a vote of 2-1. On May 1, liquor board inspectors observed four “patrons” at the side entrance of the establishment “consuming what appeared to be alcoholic beverages out of 32-ounce clear containers,” which would be in violation of the governor’s executive order. But the restaurant’s owner told the liquor board three of the individuals were off-duty employees lingering after work, and the fourth individual was picking up an employee after work.

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