A nightspot proposed for Baltimore’s Station North Arts District needs a little more time before it’s ready to open, according to the lawyer for the team behind the venture.
The project is Laverne’s, a lounge and entertainment venue planned to replace the old Trip’s Place nightclub at 1813 N. Charles St.
On Oct. 9, 2025, the liquor board approved an application from 1813 Sips LLC to transfer an active Class “BD7” Beer, Wine and Liquor license that’s associated with the property so the applicants can sell alcoholic beverages at the new establishment.
The group is led by Catherine Carmen Borg, Megan Kathryn Elcrat and Amrita “Ami” Kaur Dang. The lounge is intended to be the first phase of a larger arts and culture hub that includes both the former Trip’s Place club and the former Gatsby’s club at 1817 N. Charles St.
The Gatsby’s building stands out on the block because it has a large illuminated artwork by Tony Shore on its front façade, called “Aurora” and unveiled last June as part of the $1 million ‘Inviting Light’ initiative funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. It was once the headquarters of the Noxzema skin cream company.
Borg, Elcrat and Dang are part of a separate group that acquired the two buildings at auction in 2024 for $609,000, with the intention of renovating them for artistic and cultural uses consistent with the Station North entertainment district. Elcrat’s design firm, Present Company, is the project architect.
The liquor board’s approval last fall gave 1813 Sips until April 7 to transfer the liquor license held by the previous property owner, the Estate of Anthony Dwight Triplin Sr., the former club owner, who died in 2014 at age 64.
The license was sold as part of the real estate auction but the buyers need the liquor board’s approval to transfer it from Triplin’s estate once the building renovations are completed in keeping with city codes. According to materials on file with the liquor board, the lounge will be on the first, second, mezzanine and basement levels of 1813 N. Charles St.
The board held a hearing on Thursday because Borg, Elcrat and Dang applied for a hardship extension that will give them an additional 90 days from April 7 to finish renovating 1813 N. Charles St. and complete the previously-approved liquor license transfer.
Stephan W. Fogleman Jr., the attorney for the applicants and a former chair of the liquor board, told the panel that his clients requested more time because they’ve experienced construction delays.
“This building’s had to undergo significant renovations, due to pipes bursting last year during the winter,” he told the board.
“The applicant needs more time to finish the buildout and clear inspections,” he said in a March 13 letter on file with the agency.
The liquor board voted unanimously to approve the hardship extension, giving the applicants until early July to complete the license transfer.
Fogleman told the board members that his clients are confident the 90-day extension will give them sufficient time to complete their renovations and move ahead with the transfer.
“They’re close,” he said. “They really believe they can get this done within the 90 days.”
