Golden Mule keeps its license; fined by liquor board

ELKTON — The Cecil County Board of License Commissioners on Wednesday agreed to allow The Golden Mule to keep its Class D Liquor License. However, the board fined the Rising Sun tavern’s owners $2,000 for various county and state violations.

Larry McElroy, co-owner of the bar and restaurant at 1809 Conowingo Road in Rising Sun, apologized for the course of events but said he has had high staff turnover and “a challenging economy.” He said the manager that was in place has been replaced.

“I hired a new manager and she’s been wonderful,” McElroy said of Heidi Giunta. “She’s going to clean this up. I’m really excited for her to be here.”

Earl Bradford, director of the Cecil County Liquor Board, brought eight charges against the bar and restaurant. The commissioners decided to combine some of the charges, resulting in $2000 in fines and court costs.

On Sept. 1, he found that the license was not on public display, and that patrons were allowed to get into their vehicles and leave with open containers of alcohol.

“When they applied for their license in 2018 ... it was strictly for on premises consumption and no one under 21 was allowed on the premises,” Bradford reported.

The establishment also was on an early 2024 list that the Maryland Comptroller’s Office reported had not fulfilled state sales tax requirements. Over the course of the year, Bradford was in contact with McElroy about the back taxes; which affected his Cecil County liquor license.

“On Aug. 30, I sent an email to The Golden Mule and others on the tax list and informed them that the release (from the Comptroller’s Office) must be received by our office by Sept. 1,” he said. “On Sept. 1, I arrived at The Golden Mule and observed customers out back drinking alcohol.”

McElroy reminded the board that his license allowed him to operate the restaurant, even without the liquor license in effect.

The bartenders on duty agreed to shut down the bar. The license could not be located. McElroy said he was out of town for the Labor Day weekend and left the license in his apartment on the top floor of the bar. Making telephone contact with Bradford, he said he had satisfied the tax obligation, but Bradford said he needed confirmation.

Bradford left and sent another agent to the bar at 5:20 p.m. That agent arrived and found the bar still operating.

“He saw patrons getting into their cars with open bottles of (beer),” Bradford said. “They definitely had an open container and left the area.”

It wasn’t until Sept. 6 that the county received the notice from the state that the taxes had been paid, Bradford said.