By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Stelia, a downtown restaurant and bar that closed last month, will request a special use permit from the city to reopen as a private club.
Two other downtown establishments — Nashville Nights and A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’ — also will request special use permits when the Salisbury Planning Board meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, 217 S. Main St.
Louie Mourouzidis, who owns DJ’s Restaurant in Salisbury, plans to reopen Stelia at 118 N. Main St. as a club, said David Phillips, city zoning administrator. The business, which would not serve food, would have regular hours and charge a membership fee, he said.
Stelia is in the Washington Building, which is owned by Mike Miller of Miller Davis and Whitley Miller Development. The business needs a special use permit from the city before it can obtain an ABC license.
For each request for a special use permit, the Planning Board will hear from city staff, hold a courtesy hearing, discuss the request and then make a recommendation to City Council with any suggested conditions.
Other requests include:
• A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’, a boutique and art gallery at 117 W. Innes St., will request on-site consumption of alcoholic beverages within an existing retail establishment. Owner Debra Evans would like to hold special events where alcohol can be served, Phillips said.
• Nashville Nights, a nightclub under construction at 125-127 E. Innes St., will request an amendment to a previously approved special use permit for a nightclub.
Owner Karen Littleton obtained a special use permit for 127 E. Innes St. and planned to use both the first and second floors at that address for her country and bluegrass nightclub. But fire code restrictions required her to expand over, instead of up, to 125 E. Innes St.
She will request an amended permit to include both sides of the business, Phillips said.
The Planning Board also will consider text amendments for additional use standards for gas stations, sight triangles, Technical Review Committee and the development process.
The board will review 2011-2012 goals and hear comments from the chairman, other board members and staff.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.