Parkville Association Opposes Liquor License for Burke's Pharmacy

The president of the Greater Parkville Community Council said her group will oppose a request for a liquor license for the former site of Burke's Pharmacy in Parkville.

Ruth Baisden said the opposition to the proposed liquor store in the 8500 block of Harford Road is in keeping with the group's position on the issuing of new licenses for packaged goods stores.

Greater Parkville Community Council president Ruth Baisden said the community group is opposed to any new license for a liquor store along Harford Road.

"We feel there are enough package liquor stores in the area, I know there are over 11 nearby," Baisden said. "It's not the most desirable business if you're trying to create a walkable, family-friendly business district."

The liquor license request is scheduled for a hearing before the Baltimore County Liquor Board Aug. 13 at 2:30 p.m.

County law requires that the liquor board consider the public need and desire for a license, as well as the number and location of existing businesses that sell liquor and the potential effect a new license would have on existing licensees.

Back in March community opposition in neighboring Carney led the liquor board to deny an application for a new liquor license centered around the former location of Beverly Hochstedt florist.

During the Carney hearing, Ruth Baisden testified in opposition to a new liquor store.

"The community is uniting, we don’t want it. We don’t feel there is a need to accommodate the residents," Baisden told the board during that hearing.

In a recent interview, she said her association's opinion hasn't changed.

"It's not needed in the area, there's been a precedent for this. [An application] was just turned down at Beverly Hochstedt, and one was turned down in the Carney Village shopping center not that long ago," Baisden said. "Hopefully the board will look back on the decisions they've made in the past and rule the same way."

A Baltimore Sun article said that Burke's Pharmacy owner Pat Burke closed up shop in Parkville at the same time he closed a Burke's Pharmacy in Reisterstown and Chestnut AID pharmacy in Hampden.

At the time, Burke told the Sun that a down economy didn't factor into his decision to close.

"It's just time," Burke told the Sun. "I'm tired."

Pat Burke is listed as one of the applicants for the new liquor license on the Baltimore County Liquor Board website.

Frank V. Boozer, the Towson attorney representing Burke and Ian Lee, another applicant listed on the license, before the liquor board, could not be reached for comment.

Read more:

• Liquor Store Planned for Former Florist Denied License