Santa Fe closed, bar’s future uncertain

Today, Santa Fe Cafe will finally start serving food and drinks for happy hour again but still won't be unlocking its front doors.

Earlier this week, a student-created Facebook event called "SANTA FE HAPPY HOUR IS BACK!!!!!" announced the downtown College Park bar's outdoor patio will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. today — the first time the bar will have been open since May 24.

But don't expect any of the bar's traditional concerts or all-night drink specials to be making a comeback any time soon. While the porch will be open, there is still no word on when the building will be fully operational again or when a sprinkler system might be installed.

The student who created the event, junior criminology major Josh Price, said he has promoted happy hour at Santa Fe in the past and has gotten around 300 people to attend — 273 people have said they would be attending the event today, as of 10 p.m. last night.

Santa Fe owner Mark Srour, who also owns Cornerstone Grill and Loft and The Mark, would not comment about the happy hour event, which, Price said, was not planned before this week.

Depending on how tomorrow's patio-only event goes, Price said similar events could follow.

He also said because only the outdoor area of Santa Fe will be open for business, employees will escort patrons inside to use the bathrooms as needed.

Last spring, Srour said he was in talks with former NBA and Terrapin basketball player Steve Francis to become an investor in the property and completely renovate the inside of the bar — including adding the sprinkler system the College Park City Council has been asking him to put in for years. But the deal with Francis fell through over the summer, and only minor renovations have been planned, aside from adding a sprinkler system.

Bob Ryan, the city's director of public services, said the city hasn't done anything to prevent Srour from officially re-opening the bar.

"My understanding is that he still has not lost his lease," Ryan said. "The city hasn't done anything."

Many students have been anxiously awaiting word on when Santa Fe would reopen.

Karan Raje, a sophomore bioengineering major, said Santa Fe was his favorite downtown bar.

"I still go to bars but not really anymore because Fe is our first choice," he said. "I think it was good because it was the only one that really offered live music. People who like rap got their share of rap; people who like rock got their share of rock."

Sophomore computer engineering major Sean Gugger said he hopes Santa Fe will reopen soon, adding that it would improve nightlife around College Park by reducing crowds at other downtown bars.

"I go to Turtle more often, but [everyone] goes to Turtle, and it gets too crowded," Gugger said.

"Fe was the best," added senior American studies major Joe Slagter. "I loved going there. It was a cheaper alternative than going to D.C. and paying 100 bucks for an act."

Ryan, who oversees city code enforcement, added he doesn't have any major concerns about the brief reopening.

"As far as fire safety is concerned, if they're outside, that's not a problem — as long as they're not overcrowded," he said.

He added the idea of having a one-time, happy-hour-only event on the patio seems like an odd way to do business.

"It seems to be a strange arrangement," Ryan said. "I don't understand why they don't just open."

rhodes@umdbk.com