MORGANTOWN — In consecutive meetings this fall, the Morgantown Board of Zoning Appeals has approved the “restaurant, private club” designation for two new additions to downtown Morgantown.
According to city code, a restaurant, private club is a business that can serve liquor (granted it’s provided a liquor license from the West Virginia ABCA) but must have a “principal purpose” of serving meals on its premises.
Previously, the city required such businesses to provide quarterly reports proving at least 60% of sales came from food and non-alcoholic drinks, but city council voted to suspend enforcement of that regulation in January, around the time it became known Primanti Bros. was coming to High Street.
Even so, getting a restaurant, private club designation in the city’s B-4 (general business) or B-1 (neighborhood business) districts requires a conditional use approval from the city’s BZA.
The board recently provided that approval for Chestnut Beer Hall, which opened its doors at 132 Pleasant Street in the first quarter of 2024.
While owner Bill Rittenour said his preference would be to sell more of his Greenmont-brewed beer and forgo the booze, it’s ultimately a business decision.
“It makes us more attractive, or at least it keeps the options open,” he said, noting Short Story Brewing offers liquor in its newly opened tap room just across the river, in Westover. “If Chestnut Beer Hall doesn’t have liquor and Short Story does, then they’re going to Short Story, and that causes me problems.”
According to Rittenour, he intends to offer a limited menu of signature cocktails as well as a selection of top-shelf bourbon.
“There will be no shots,” he said.
Main Street Morgantown President Mark Downs said Chestnut Beer Hall has breathed new life into a once-thriving downtown location.
“Bill has invested a lot of time, money and fortune in reactivating a space that was very important to the community. It was felt when Black Bear Burritos left downtown Morgantown,” he told members of the BZA. “What he’s done is very appreciated by the downtown community.”
It’s just over 300 feet from the beer hall’s front door to 227 Chestnut Street, the home of Pour Choices Pub & Grub.
The board granted that business’s restaurant, private club designation back in September.
Pour Choices opened in August in the longtime location of Apothecary Ale House and, more recently, Deckers Creek Yacht Club.
“We’re going for a little older crowd who do want to come eat and they do want a cocktail with dinner. We’ve had several people request that since we’ve been open,” Owner Jamel Smalls said. “There’s a financial part of it also. The profit margin of just having beer is not as high. When you add spirits, that allows us to overcome some of the things that failing restaurants are going through right now.
Prior to approving the application, BZA members noted the body was also waiving a requirement that a business establish itself for one year before requesting the restaurant, private club designation.
Downs said that was the right decision.
“I will point out that Deckers Creek Yacht Club, that was there before, did not succeed. It did not make it through that first year to get that under their belt and meet that requirement,” he said in support of Smalls. “This will increase their likelihood of success.”
Both Chestnut Beer Hall and Pour Choices Pub & Grub have food menus as well as drinks.
