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Kent County approves four Class B liquor licenses; commissioners to press Maryland Comptroller on delays
Summary
The Kent County commissioners approved four Class B (beer, wine and liquor) licenses for restaurants in Chestertown, Rock Hall, Betterton and Washington Square, and voted to draft a letter to the Maryland Comptroller after repeated delays affected a license applicant.
The Kent County Board of County Commissioners voted April 8 to approve four Class B beer, wine and liquor licenses with catering privileges for restaurants across the county and directed staff to press the Maryland Comptroller’s Office to resolve delays that have held up at least one licensee.
The approvals covered Masala Time (3 Buckingham Square, Chestertown), El Rancho Mexican Cuisine (18 Washington Ave., Chestertown), the Little Lemon Leaf Diner (21356 Rock Hall Ave., Rock Hall) and Sassafras (12 Erickson Ave., Betterton). Each application was presented at a public hearing and reviewed by county licensing staff and legal counsel before commissioners voted to approve them.
The licensing inspector recommended approval for multiple applicants. “We recommend the approval of the class b beer, wine, and liquor license with no contingencies. Everything is in order,” Inspector Persol told the board during the Masala Time hearing. Masala Time’s applicant said the restaurant has been operating at the location and sought the license to add alcohol service: “I’m operating an Indian restaurant for Masala Time … we always serve you well,” the applicant said.
For El Rancho Mexican Cuisine, the inspector reported the applicant had submitted required documents to the Maryland Comptroller’s Office but was still awaiting a valid central registration number; county staff recommended approval contingent on receiving that number. Attorney Andrew Meehan, representing the El Rancho applicant, urged the board to approve the application; he described the owner as a local resident and student and said the restaurant was “doing really well.” The board approved El Rancho’s license contingent on receipt of the comptroller registration.
The Little Lemon Leaf Diner’s application was approved contingent on the restaurant designating at least one employee who has completed the required alcohol awareness (TIPS) training. “Once I verify that they do, and have their tips training, certification, we will pull back the contingency,” Inspector Pearsall told the board.
Sassafras owners described a seafood supper‑club concept and said they would source ingredients locally; the board approved that license without contingencies.
Licensing staff also reported recent issuances: prorated licenses were issued to Northpointe Marina LLC (liquor license no. 4913) and Rock Hall Brewing Company LLC (liquor license no. 4914).
Commissioners also addressed ongoing problems with the Maryland Comptroller’s Office delaying central registration numbers and other processing. After commissioners described repeated unsuccessful attempts by licensees and county staff to obtain timely responses from the comptroller’s office, the board voted to prepare a formal letter outlining the delays and requesting immediate action, with a recommendation to copy the governor’s office.
Votes at a glance: all four Class B licenses were approved (El Rancho contingent on comptroller registration; Little Lemon Leaf contingent on verified TIPS certification). The board voted unanimously to draft the letter regarding comptroller delays.
The actions mean four restaurants can add on‑premises alcohol service after the county forwards final documentation to state officials where required; county staff will follow up on contingencies and the commissioners asked the licensing inspector to remove contingencies once requirements are verified.
