Underage drinking, fake IDs and ‘1 Bottle strike to head’: An investigation of Cornerstone Grill & Loft

Throngs of young adults — dressed as cheerleaders, sailors and the Cookie Monster — snaked out the doors of Cornerstone Grill & Loft in College Park just after 8 p.m. on Oct. 29.

The vibes were somewhere between an average kickoff to a hard-partying holiday weekend and a wake.

The popular University of Maryland haunt recently lost its liquor license for 90 days after a failed appeal to the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners.

Officials found that Cornerstone constituted a “danger to the peace and safety of the neighborhood,” according to the board.

The suspension went into effect Oct. 30 — hence the funeral-like atmosphere in line.

Still, on the 29th, the place was packed with patrons willing to shell out $20 just to get in. Some students reported on social media that the cost to toast this pause in pours ran some attendees as much as $100.

Some of those in line declined to talk. Others were not in a proper state of mind for an interview as they stumbled into the intersection of Baltimore Avenue and Knox Road.

Not wanting to get called into a meeting about expensing an exorbitant cover charge, this Banner reporter instead asked an employee monitoring the door when Cornerstone would reopen the following day.

“Not a time,” she said.

She wasn’t wrong.

On Oct. 30, a sign posted on the door read: “We are closed tonight. Apologize for the inconvenience. We will be open tomorrow at 11 a.m.”

Cornerstone has yet to reopen since Oct. 29, owner Mark Srour said on a phone call Thursday evening.

“We just feel that the punishment didn’t fit the crime,” he said, adding, “There was no crime but that’s the saying.”

Srour said he and his team are still trying to figure out their next steps, including the employment status of his staff. He hopes to update the community within the next two weeks. One of those actions includes an appeal in court, but Srour referred The Banner to his attorneys for further details.

The attorneys that represented the establishment in front of the liquor board have not replied to requests for comment about the business’ plan during the suspension.

The county liquor board responded Thursday afternoon to The Banner’s request under Maryland’s Public Information Act with materials that detail the scope and findings of its investigation into Cornerstone.

Chief liquor inspector Robert Clark’s 107-page report spans incidents and investigations from January 2024 through February 2026.

“The evidence demonstrates recurring failures in alcohol awareness compliance, age verification enforcement, operational supervision, and maintenance of orderly premises,” Clark wrote.

Clark said his data “suggests a direct causal link between supervisory absence and escalating violence” at Cornerstone, “indicating that the establishment has reached a state of ‘Total Loss of Control.’” He presented his findings at a Sept. 9 board meeting.

University of Maryland Police Department officers also gave testified of incidents connected to Cornerstone, and Clark included many of their reports in his own.

Officers witnessed and assisted 17-year-olds who were heavily intoxicated and, in some cases, unconscious and required transport to the hospital, according to the report. One underage woman on Nov. 12, 2025, had a blood alcohol content reported by paramedics to be in the “lethal range.”

Clark tallied 37 incidents documented by UMD police, including: “4 Repeated vomiting and head injuries”; “Multiple underage individuals consuming substantial quantities of liquor (e.g., 8-15 shots of alcohol reported)”; 1 Documented fake ID confiscation”; “1 Patron standing in roadways yelling at traffic”; “2 Spitting on staff” and “1 Bottle strike to head.”

Clark concluded his executive summary: “Immediate intervention is required to preserve the safety of the College Park community.”

In an Oct. 26 letter to the board from Cornerstone owner Mark Srour and general manager Brian Lambert, the pair acknowledged a tough reality ahead if the suspension went into effect.

“Cornerstone employs approximately 70 individuals, many of whom depend on their jobs to support families, pay rent, and finance their education,” the letter said.

“A 90-day suspension is far more than a temporary interruption of alcohol sales. With continuing payroll, rent, utilities, insurance, and other obligations, the financial consequences could extend well beyond the suspension period and threaten the long-term viability of the establishment.”

In an Oct. 28 Instagram post, Cornerstone urged customers to come by. “All cover and sales directly support our fantastic employees,” the post said.

On the same day, Cornerstone and its attorney filed a motion in Prince George’s County Circuit Court for a temporary restraining order to pause the suspension until they could continue their court battle.

Cornerstone said in the filing that the business would take a $1 million hit due to the suspension, including fixed costs, lost revenue and an $18,000 deposit for “DJ Paulie D [sic],” the Jersey Shore cast member who was scheduled to perform Nov. 5.

“The penalty will result in the temporary loss of employment for the overwhelming majority of Cornerstone’s employees,” according to the filing, which said the business employs 72 people.

The circuit court judge denied Cornerstone’s motion on Oct. 30.

Cornerstone’s social media has been dormant since the suspension began. It is unclear whether it is continuing to pursue legal options to challenge the suspension, which is expected to end Jan. 28.

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