Council Officially Denies Liquor License Transfer

The moment came - and went. And with it went the chance for a new club to replace the Moose Lodge on East State Street.

Doylestown Borough Council voted on Aug. 20 to deny a request to transfer a new liquor license from Bristol Borough to Doylestown. Matthew Bender wanted to use the new license to open a bar and restaurant in the Moose Lodge building at 127 E. State St. Bender is the son in law of the building's owners, Bob and Mary Ellen Walton.

The bar and restaurant would be for the exclusive use of a new private club, The Standard Club, which would replace the Moose Lodge as lease holder of the building.

After council verbally denied the transfer request, Doylestown attorney Bill Bolla petitioned borough council to reconsider the transfer. The request for reconsideration was on Monday night's council meeting agenda.

Borough solicitor David Conn opened the floor for a motion.

"There's no action necessary by council, unless a member of council wishes to reopen the hearing," Conn said.

He was met with only silence.

A few minutes later, the nine council members voted unanimously to approve the formal resolution denying the license transfer.

The hearing on Aug. 20 on the license transfer packed borough council chambers with people supporting Bender's application and neighbors of the Moose Lodge opposed to it.

Learn More:

• Moose Denied Liquor License Transfer
• Attorney Asks for Second Chance for New Club