Former owner of The Drinkery dies
Fred Allen, who owned the Drinkery for many years, died on Aug. 7. (Photo by Steve Charing) Frederick “Fred” Allen, the former owner of The Drinkery, a longstanding gay bar in the Mount Vernon neighborhood , died from natural causes on Aug. 7 at the age of 86, according to his granddaughter Amy Miller . Allen, who owned The Drinkery since 1972 and maintained an apartment above the bar for more than 40 years, transferred the Class “BD7” Beer, Wine & Liquor License to Miller this past Jan. 19. The Drinkery, situated on the corner of Park Avenue and Read Streets, made news when the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners voted 2 -1 on May 19, 2016 not to extend the bar’s liquor license based on a petition from neighboring businesses and residents alleging rowdiness , excessive noise, drug activity and violence in and around the establishment. Allen, frail and wheelchair-bound, was among those who testified on behalf of the bar at the liquor board hearing . Two weeks l...