After extensive negotiations with community leaders and immediate neighbors, Pusser’s Landing restaurant is close to opening in the former Bo Brooks and Drift Bar spots at Lighthouse Point Marina in Canton.
An operating group called Pusser’s Landing Canton LLC cleared a key hurdle on June 26 when Baltimore’s liquor board approved its request to transfer an existing license at 2711 Boston St. so it could serve alcoholic beverages. The “Class B’ Beer, Wine and Liquor license includes outdoor table service and delivery of alcoholic beverages but not live entertainment.
A plan on file with the liquor board indicates that Pusser’s Landing’s 15,000-square-foot space will have seating for 353 patrons, including indoor dining, outdoor patio seating and 104 seats on a floating “dock bar” previously called the Drift Bar. That makes it one of the largest restaurants to open in Baltimore this year. The owners are James Lepley and Christopher Townsend, both listed as 50 percent owners. The licensee is Grace Pilet Jacobsen, a Baltimore resident.
Pusser’s Landing Canton is a successor to Pusser’s Caribbean Grille at 80 Compromise St. in Annapolis, which closed last fall after 30 years in that city. Known for its Caribbean food and rum-based cocktails, Pusser’s had to close after the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel declined to renew its lease and brought in The Atlas Restaurant Group to take over its space.
Part of a $40 million renovation
Pusser’s Landing’s owners announced their plans to move to the Canton waterfront last fall. Their restaurant, in the space once occupied by Bo Brooks, is the latest addition to Lighthouse Point Marina, which has been undergoing a $40 million renovation over the past three years.
Monument Marine Group, an investment firm, acquired the marina in April of 2022 from Scott Plank’s War Horse Cities and joined Oasis Marinas to begin a two-phase renovation of the property.
The first phase included demolition and reconstruction of the marina docks and piers, reducing the number of slips from 460 to 400, and introducing the Drift Bar, a floating cocktail bar. The second phase included renovation of the former Bo Brooks restaurant and bar for Pusser’s Landing, and other improvements to the marina, including a boater’s lounge and gym. The Boston Street liquor license was transferred from Pharos Marine LLC, trading as Oasis Marina at Lighthouse Point.
‘Historic brand’
Joseph Woolman III, an attorney for Pusser’s Landing, told the liquor board that Pusser’s Landing will enhance the marina and the Canton area in general.
“The restaurant will be a unique and highly anticipated destination for residents and visitors,” he said. “The operators will offer the unique services of a long-established venue while bringing an iconic and uniquely historic brand from Annapolis to Baltimore.”
Pusser’s Landing is one of several city restaurants whose operators have received liquor board approval after extensive meetings with representatives of local community groups concerned about the potential impact the businesses could have on their quality of life.
In March, operators of the Barn & Lodge restaurant and events venue at The Rotunda received approval to provide live entertainment after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hampden Community Council that spells out the operating hours, soundproofing provisions and other details. The project is currently under construction and expected to open later this year.
In Fells Point, operators of The Choptank restaurant have had ongoing disputes with neighbors about noise and other issues. In 2021, residents asked the board not to renew The Choptank’s liquor license on the grounds that its operators broke promises related to outdoor music, but the panel members denied their request.
Rigorous outreach
Woolman told the liquor board that his clients and the Lighthouse Point Marina team have conducted a rigorous outreach campaign with community leaders and immediate neighbors.
“The team heard significant concerns regarding the floating dock portion of the premises, including live entertainment, the use and placement of outdoor speakers and the hours of operation,” he said. “After postponing its transfer hearing before the board multiple times, and numerous follow-up conversations and negotiations with neighbors and community leaders, the team executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canton Community Association, which is required by the state statute that created this license, and garnered letters of support from the Canton Community Association” and others.
Woolman said the executed Memorandum of Understanding includes “significant concessions made by the team, including but not limited to: the removal of existing outdoor speakers from the western side of the floating dock; a Sunday through Thursday outdoor closing time of 10 p.m.; a Friday to Saturday outdoor closing time of 11 p.m.; a seven-day per week indoor closing time of 12 a.m., and an agreement not to seek approval for live entertainment at this time.”
He noted that the concessions made by Pusser’s Landing’s operators “represent restrictions much greater than those imposed by existing Memorandums of Understanding for the two neighboring establishments along the Canton waterfront.”
100 jobs
Lepley and Townsend told the board that their restaurant will result in the creation of about 100 jobs and that they’re aiming to open in mid-July. According to their website, they’re currently accepting resumes.
Hey Chris, Good luck on opening and thereafter. The Peterson’s of Salisbury.