The St. Mary's County Alcohol Beverage Board on Nov. 9 granted a 90-day extension of conditional approval to Marketplace Wine and Spirits (formerly Bay Country Liquors) after the applicant said construction delays have pushed back the store opening.

The extension was requested by applicant Kirk Masoon, who told the board the tenant build-out remains ongoing and that final inspections are scheduled. "The floors are done, polished floors, the coolers are in...All the plumbing is done. Electric, ruffling is done. We are going to an inspection next Monday," Masoon said during the hearing.

Board members heard that the larger center's parking lot and other tenants are also opening later than originally planned; Masoon said he was told the shopping center would be operational just before Thanksgiving and that Harris Teeter is now scheduled to open Jan. 21. The board's motion to grant the 90-day extension passed without recorded opposition.

The extension keeps in place the license's conditional status while the applicant completes inspections and finalizes the tenant build-out. The board swore in Masoon and accepted a letter from Brian H. Jones authorizing his son (or representative) to speak on his behalf about the application.

The applicant said the new store will be about 4,000 square feet, larger than the old location, and that inventory is already secured in locked storage for transfer once the premises pass inspection. The board did not add further conditions beyond retaining the conditional approval pending required inspections and permits.

Votes at the meeting included approval of the Oct. 12, 2017 minutes and this 90-day extension; both were recorded as approved by voice vote.

Looking ahead, the board and staff will continue routine follow-up until the license conditions — occupancy, required inspections and related administrative paperwork — are satisfied.