4 Wicomico Businesses Busted for Selling Alcohol to Minors

SALISBURY, Md.- Authorities say four businesses failed a routine Wicomico County Alcohol Task Force compliance check conducted on Wednesday, May 9.

Named "Operation Spot Check," the operations involved the use of Maryland State Police cadets for sales to underage persons at various licensed establishments throughout the county.

John Groncki, chief liquor license inspector for the Wicomico Board of [Liquor] License Commissioners, said that of the 40 establishments that were checked, the four listed below failed:

• Adam's the Place for Ribs, 219 N. Fruitland Blvd., Fruitland
• Ruby Tuesday's, 2300 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Wise Mart II, 806 Main St., Sharptown
• Mardela Dash In, 24970 Ocean Gateway, Mardela Springs

The following 36 locations passed, resulting in a 90 percent pass rate:

• Famous Dave's, 2318 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Longhorn Steakhouse, 2312 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, 2316 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Red Lobster, 2314 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Wetcher Whistle, 1220 Old Ocean City Road, Salisbury
• Quick Stop, 7181 Parsonsburg Road, Parsonsburg
• Outback Steakhouse, 8245 Dickerson Lane, Salisbury
• Plaza Tapatia, 1045 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Station 7 Restaurant, 7456 Gumboro Road, Pittsville
• Texas Roadhouse, 107 E. Cedar Lane, Fruitland
• Mr. Paul's Legacy, 1801 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Mela Bar & Grill, 2625 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• La Roma Pizza & Restaurant, 934 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Uno's Chicago Grill, 100 E. Cedar Lane, Fruitland
• Chili's Grill & Bar, 2750 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Eden Valero, 3602 Stockyard Road, Eden
• Quick Stop, 900 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury
• Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, 2703 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Shore Stop, 7126 Friendship Road, Pittsville
• Luck Star, 208 N. Fruitland Blvd., Fruitland
• Break Time Sports Grill & Bar, 1009 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Fox & Olive, 125 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury
• Delmar Diner, 9506 Ocean Hwy, Delmar
• Market Street Inn, 130 W. Market St., Salisbury
• Shore Stop, 27430 Ocean Gateway, Hebron
• Express Mart, 615 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Hunan Palace II, 2505 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Salisbury Quick Stop, 2513 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Hebron Food Rite, 100 S. Main St., Hebron
• Royal Farm Store, 27992 Ocean Gateway, Salisbury
• Mardela Goose Creek, 24948 Ocean Gateway, Mardela Springs
• Lombardi's Tower Of Pisa, 313 Civic Ave., Salisbury
• Quick Food Mart, 900 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Plaza Tapatia, 2715 N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Thirsty's South, 1053 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury
• Thirsty's, 9534 Ocean Highway, Delmar

Groncki said the licensees of the establishments that failed the compliance checks will be required to appear before the Board of [Liquor] License Commissioners for a show cause hearing whereupon they could face fines or suspensions of their liquor licenses, or both. The clerks who sold the alcohol to the cadet will be charged criminally by the officers of the Task Force, according to Groncki.

"It is always my goal to achieve 100 percent compliance during these operations, however, extensive further training will be necessary for the establishments that failed," Groncki said.

The task force is comprised of the Board of [Liquor] License Commissioners, Maryland State Police, the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, the Salisbury and Fruitland police departments, as well as the Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office.