New Berlin Beer, Wine License Granted

SNOW HILL -- Several businesses in Worcester County were approved for either expansions or new licenses at this month’s Board of License Commissioners (BLC) meeting. However, it wasn’t all good news, with a struggling local business deciding to close its doors.

With a unanimous vote, the board agreed to grant a beer and wine license to Sisters, a new shop headed for Main St. in Berlin.

“We’re going to promote the Eastern Shore,” said co-owner Michael Anne Phillips.

Phillips’ sister, Dona Compher, described Sisters as a shop that will sell everything from housewares to jewelry while also offering craft beer and a wine list to either be enjoyed on premise or carryout. The sisters even plan on having live entertainment to play while people shop.

“That is our shopping experience,” said Phillips.
“Everything is covered,” added Compher.

Currently, the sisters have a soft opening date of May 16, and noted that receiving their beer and wine license was “the last hurdle.”

Also by a unanimous vote, the board approved a transfer of Ocean City restaurant Adolfo’s current liquor license to its new location inside Phillips Beach Plaza on the Boardwalk. Co-owner Kim Griffin expressed excitement over the move, explaining that the Boardwalk site would offer a lot more than Adolfo’s current downtown location.

With the Boardwalk spot, unlike her former site, there will be significant parking as well as more space overall, including a larger kitchen.

“Our kitchen can probably fit into the new one 20 times,” said Griffin.

Griffin predicted that Adolfo’s will have to double its staff to keep pace with demand. But even with everything growing, she stressed that Adolfo’s will be recognizable to loyal customers.

“We’re really trying to keep that old world charm,” Griffin said.

Two other businesses in Ocean City, the Bahia Marina and Fish Tales restaurant and BJ’s on the Water, will also be seeing growth. Both will be slightly expanding, and BJ’s will be adding a rooftop deck that comes with an extra 61 seats, though it plans on cutting 27 seats from its current dining room, for a bulk gain of only 34 seats.

Not everything at the meeting was good news, however. The Steer Inn turned in its liquor license instead of facing a hearing for an alcohol sale to a minor. When it was turned in, “lack of business” was cited as the official reason it closed.