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About three weeks after opening Rio Restaurant & Lounge in Laurel, owner Tak Yoon said he is hoping the Prince George's County Liquor Board will remove some of the restrictions it set when transferring the liquor license to him in July.

The board has established a number of restrictions for the new business — including prohibiting outdoor seating, dancing and live entertainment with the exception of a DJ — because of concerns stemming from the site's violent reputation. The restaurant, under different ownership, was the site of a non-fatal shooting in 2006, and two homicides occurred at a dance club in a nearby shopping center in 2005 and 2007.

Yoon said business at the new restaurant has been slow since it opened Dec. 2. He is hoping the liquor board will remove some of the restrictions at a hearing on Jan. 13, which he believes would enable him to attract more customers. In particular, Yoon said he would like to offer a dance floor and be able to seat patrons on the outside deck, which was renovated prior to the restaurant's opening.

"DJs are supposed to go with dancing," he said.

Garold Stone, the coordinator of the South Laurel Community Association Leaders network, said he and several other community leaders attended a grand-opening preview event at Rio on Dec. 2. Stone, who has voiced concerns about the location in the past, said he had a good first impression of the restaurant, but will wait until a liquor board hearing in January to take an official stance on the establishment.

"They've decorated it up nicely, that's about all you can tell from that event," he said. "We didn't discuss anything about expectations."

Yoon, who lives in Rockville and also owns bars in Langley Park and Silver Spring, said he is committed to following the rules and making Rio a safe and enjoyable location, even though some people in the community are worried he will follow in the footsteps of the site's previous owners.

"I'm not going to do it," he said. "I invested too much here."

Yoon said he spent more than $500,000 renovating the 10,000 square-foot space, which includes four pool tables, 40 plasma TVs and seating for about 200 people. Rio is located behind Sakura Japanese Steak House at the intersection of Route 1 and Contee Road.

Yoon said he wants Rio to become a go-to place for sporting events, but the liquor board's restriction on his operating hours has made it difficult to attract sports fans. Rio closes at 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and Yoon said he would like to stay open until 2 a.m. every night so as to allow patrons to watch any game they request.

"Some sports events go way over 11:30," he said. "The customers have been complaining."

Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Dist. 21) of College Park said he and the state delegates will be working with community leaders in coming weeks to ensure Rio continues to follow the liquor board's rules.

"Since they just opened, we ought to give them a chance to fly right," Rosapepe said. "We hope they will, but we'll be keeping an eye on it."