The Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary’s County on Dec. 13 granted conditional approval for a Class B (restaurant, on‑sale beer and wine) license to Justin Keyes for Days Off Deli & Grill, authorizing an outdoor patio subject to several conditions and a 90‑day deadline for required permits.

Board members discussed build‑out status, pedestrian access to the proposed patio and safety controls before voting to approve the license conditionally.

Applicant Justin Keyes described the proposed business as a deli and grill serving sandwiches and dinners and said the tenant build‑out was underway at a space adjacent to Twist Wine and Spirits. He said the interior work would likely be ready in February and that he planned to use a fenced, gated patio with a single access through the restaurant and cameras for monitoring. "I'm just gonna follow the codes on what I need to," Keyes said when asked about fence height and safety requirements.

Board administrator Tammy Hildebrand informed members that the applicant must show use‑and‑occupancy (U&O) approval, a trader’s license, fire marshal sign‑off, workers’ compensation documentation and proof of required server training (TAM/RAS) within the conditional period. Inspector Gordon Thompson flagged that detailed inspections and U&O are prerequisites for final approval.

Members and staff discussed how the patio would connect to the sidewalk and parking, and whether gates or signage would be necessary to prevent uncontrolled public access. Keyes said most of the patio would sit to the side of the building and that access would be routed through the restaurant, with a gate for handicapped access from the sidewalk.

The board approved a motion for a 90‑day conditional approval requiring the U&O, trader’s license, fire marshal sign‑off, TAM training and workers’ compensation policy (and other insurance) before the license can become effective. The motion noted that the patio must be fenced and—depending on fire marshal guidance—may need to be lockable or controlled to prevent unsupervised entry.

Board members encouraged Keyes to take the RAS/TAM training scheduled for February and to work with the inspector and administrator on signage, fencing and final drawings. No formal protests were filed at the hearing; the board’s vote carried with a majority.

Next steps: Keyes must satisfy the listed conditions and submit documentation to the board administrator within 90 days of the approval; the inspector will conduct follow‑up site review before the license is issued.