Grand Central, the nightclub that was a beacon of Baltimore's "gayborhood" for 30 years, has closed for good on Charles Street. Grand Central had been operating on borrowed time at 1001 N. Charles St. for more than a year.
Developer Landmark Partners acquired the nightclub space for $1.4 million in February 2019 and has shared plans to transform the property into an eight-story office and restaurant development called City House Charles. City officials issued an interior demolition permit for the building in late July. But two recent violations of Baltimore's novel coronavirus restrictions hastened the end for Grand Central, an attorney representing the nightclub said during a liquor board hearing Thursday.
According to city liquor board documents, inspectors responding to a 311 call cited the club for illegal conduct and general welfare violations on July 30 after they witnessed patrons drinking alcohol while standing in pedestrian walkways and streets outside of Grand Central. They also found another 15 patrons inside the club, in violation of an executive order from Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young that, at the time, barred indoor drinking and dining.
