For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Montgomery Liquor Control Director
Robert Dorfman meets with
owners of District 5 restaurants,
beer/wine stores
Video summary captures essence of meeting
arranged by County Councilmember
Tom Hucker in Silver Spring
ROCKVILLE, Md., April 18, 2017—Robert Dorfman, who in January was named as the new director of Montgomery County’s Department of Liquor Control (DLC), on April 17 at the Silver Spring Civic Building, met with owners of restaurants and beer/wine stores in County Council District 5 (which includes the Silver Spring area) to explain changes that are being made to improve pricing, delivery and availability of products. The meeting was arranged by District 5 Councilmember Tom Hucker, who previously wrote to Mr. Dorfman to offer a series of suggestions that could help improve the department.
A video summary of the meeting was assembled by County Cable Montgomery, the County’s cable station. The video, which runs for 7 minutes, 30 seconds, is viewable at https://youtu.be/T00p73npmIw .
Mr. Dorfman took over a department that has been the subject of considerable study over the past two years.
In his letter to Mr. Dorfman, Councilmember Hucker wrote, “What is certain is that the DLC can make many common sense operational changes immediately—without any new State or County legislation. It is our responsibility to make the DLC the best it can be—efficient, competitive, consumer-friendly and teeming with a diverse and easily accessible inventory for both individual customers and licensees. Montgomery County consumers and businesses deserve no less.”
Among Councilmember Hucker’s suggestions were for DLC to initiate a price matching program in retail stores; evaluate the feasibility of opening regional “superstores” with more shelf space for expanded selection; and open a new downcounty storage facility to deliver products swiftly to downcounty restaurants and bars.
Mr. Dorfman accepted the position with Montgomery County without previous government experience. His career includes extensive leadership experience in the private sector working with Marriott International’s food and beverage operations, the World of Beers restaurants and Five Guys Burgers & Fries.
In the meeting with owners of restaurants and beer/wines stores, he explained quick and significant changes that are being made in the Department of Liquor Control to better serve the businesses that buy alcohol products from the County. In turn, that will result in better service for customers.
Among the examples of improvements in the department, Mr. Dorfman said that many items that were considered “special order” are now being available as regular stock in the County warehouse.
“We are looking at every single piece of this business and breaking it down, and saying, ‘If I were a business and had a choice, would I want to do business with us?’” said Mr. Dorfman. “My job is to turn it around—but not only turn it around. I want Montgomery County to be the model.”
# # # # Release ID: 17-130