Rehoboth approves Cooter Brown’s permit of compliance

Rehoboth Beach commissioners unanimously approved a supplemental permit of compliance for Cooter Brown’s Twisted Southern Kitchen & Bourbon Bar during a Jan. 19 meeting.

Located on the second level of First Street Station overlooking Rehoboth Avenue, Cooter Brown’s opened in 2017. MBA Hospitality Group LLC took over ownership of the restaurant in October.

A public hearing was needed as part of the transfer of an existing liquor license to a new owner, to amend a previously issued permit of compliance, and to amend a previously issued dining patio supplemental permit of compliance.

There was almost no discussion about the approval of the permit of compliance or supplemental permit of compliance. The discussion was centered around the new owners having to go through the process at all, because it was discovered during a routine check that the previous owners moved some tables around.

Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski said he thought it was ridiculous that this application was coming before the board, since the table rearrangement does not constitute a significant change.

Building Inspector Matt Janis said he didn’t necessarily disagree, but his hands were tied because it was in the code.

New co-owner Marco Lopez represented MBA Hospitality at the hearing. He said the process was disheartening and not a hurdle they had expected to have to clear.

It’s probably time to update the code, said Lopez.