Construction on the new Charles Village Pub is likely to begin next month, according to the pub's owner and Hunt Valley resident Ricky Bielski.

"We're hoping, like, second week in July," Bielski said.

"We're actually applying for some permits today," he said June 17.

"I'm just most excited about how we've had so much support from customers and family," Bielski said. "It seems like everybody has a little story about the pub."

The return of the pub is so anticipated, in fact, that county officials have asked Bielski to stay in touch because they may want to have a little ceremony to celebrate the beginning of reconstruction.

The pub was all-but destroyed in a January fire and was torn down in April, leaving an empty lot of dirt between the neighboring buildings.

No one was hurt in the fire, but the pub's destruction dealt a blow to the block of Pennsylvania Avenue between York Road and Washington Avenue, a block which has seen at least one other fire over the past year as well as empty storefronts.

But within days of the pub's destruction, Bielski said he'd rebuild.

Designs for the new pub were approved by the county design review panel earlier this month.

While Bielski has said from the beginning that the pub, when rebuilt, would be much like the pub that was, he decided to make some improvements, such as better restrooms and a little more space, he said.

The rear patio will also see some improvements, Bielski said. As it was before, the patio was only accessible via an alleyway from the front of the pub to the rear. Now patrons will be able to walk straight back through the restaurant to the patio without a dark, narrow alleyway.

Additionally, the patio will have sort of folding walls or doors so that, when the weather is nice, employees can open it up and patrons will feel like they're outside.

"We'll be able to close it off in the winter time," Bielski said.

The pub will also have a new outdoor feature: a rooftop deck, which will be directly above the rear patio.

That deck will seat about 70 people, Bielski said.

"We're going to upgrade the menu as well," Bielski said.

A few "slightly trendier" items will be added to the menu, but much of the pub grub familiar to CVP patrons will still be available, he said.

"It's still going to be a casual place," Bielski said. "No white table cloths."

For the most part, the new Charles Village Pub will feel like the old one, he said.

"We're just looking for the old-time pub feel," Bielski said. "A lot of wood and stone."

He said the popular night spot will reopen as son as possible.

"It depends on the weather, but we're hoping for the first of the year," Bielski said.