By Jose Gonzalez

University of Maryland students are looking for other ways to have fun this Halloween weekend with Cornerstone Grill & Loft losing its liquor license.

The Prince George’s County Board of Commissioners suspended Cornerstone’s license to serve alcohol for 90 days, despite the establishment’s request to delay the suspension at the council meeting on Tuesday. The bar will be fined $7,500 and the suspension will begin Friday, right before Halloween weekend.

“We understand the concern, confusion and uncertainty this news has created,” the restaurant said in a social media post. “Cornerstone is not permanently closing and we are pursuing all available legal options to challenge this decision.

The establishment, which has been around since 1997, will not serve alcohol until Jan. 28, 2027, one day after the start of the UMD’s spring semester.

The suspension was based on video evidence and testimonies from four university police officers, The Baltimore Banner reported Tuesday.

For some students, like junior real estate and the built environment student Eliot Baron, Cornerstone’s suspension isn’t detrimental.

“I don’t think I really mind because I think there are a lot of other places you could go, like other bars in College Park,” Baron said. “Also, there’s a lot of just house parties and stuff to go to.”

Sammy Goldstein, a senior finance student, said that Cornerstone was “for sure” a place he would’ve gone to this weekend.

“I think it’s probably somewhere I would not lean towards going to, just knowing that you can’t buy anything alcohol related,” Goldstein said. “I think that it’s probably gonna deter people from going there and just going to [other bars] instead.”

Cornerstone sits on the edge of Baltimore Ave. (Route 1) and Knox Road, with R.J. Bentley’s and Terrapin’s Turf nearby. Another bar, Looney’s Pub, sits further north up Route 1.

For senior electrical engineering student Ethan Artis, he sees Cornerstone losing its liquor license as negative for him since he is a frequent Looney’s customer.

“I was a little surprised hearing that, but I don’t have too many feelings about that,” Artis said. “What I will say is I’m assuming everyone who went to [Cornerstone] will now go to Looney’s, so it’s gonna make Looney’s even more packed.”

Baron added that there was a high possibility he would’ve gone to Cornerstone this weekend, and that the bar will return to “business as usual” once the suspension ends.

Goldstein agreed, adding: “I feel like on [Jan. 28] or whatever it is that they open back up, it’s gonna be a huge deal and a big coming back night. But I think until then, they’re going to struggle with getting customers.”