Plaza Mexico Of Bel Air Gets Liquor License

BEL AIR, MD — A Mexican restaurant with five other locations in Maryland and Delaware was granted a liquor license in Harford County. Plaza Mexico of Bel Air was issued a license to sell beer, wine and liquor by the Harford County Board of Liquor Control at its most recent meeting.

Eight people own the restaurant, which was previously a Ruby Tuesday near the intersection of MD 543 and Route 7.

The brand has locations in Millsboro, Del., as well as Fallston, Huntingtown, White Plains and North Beach, Md.

The menu will be the same as at the other Plaza Mexico restaurants, according to attorney Eric McLaughlin, who presented the concept to the liquor control board.

“The goal is for this to be consistent with the success” of the other locations, McLaughlin said at the Jan. 19 liquor board meeting in Bel Air. The new owners wanted to get a beer, wine and liquor license, McLaughlin said, because “when people go in to enjoy their Mexican cuisine, they like to have their margaritas."

To obtain the liquor license, applicants have to make capital improvements to a property. Plaza Mexico of Bel Air invested $257,000 and also obtained fire marshal and health department approval to open, McLaughlin said.

“The outside has been refreshed — it looks beautiful,” McLaughlin said.

When it opens, Plaza Mexico of Bel Air will employ 20 to 30 people, McLaughlin said.

“There's a good amount of commercial activity,” McLaughlin said of the area, noting his clients were “getting in early” before more development comes.

Commissioner Fred Merchant asked how much experience the licensees would have in serving alcohol. Combined, the four licensees had more than four decades of experience.

Plaza Mexico of Bel Air plans to open at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24. It is at 1341 James Way.