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St. Mary's County Alcohol Beverage Board approves multiple license extensions and transfers, adopts budget draft
Summary
At its Jan. 9 meeting the Alcohol Beverage Board granted conditional extensions for two license applicants, approved transfers and conditional new licenses for three businesses, approved a minor trade-name change and adopted a draft budget; the board also discussed enforcement training and compliance statistics.
The Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary's County on Jan. 9, 2025 approved a series of license extensions, transfers and conditional approvals for local businesses, and adopted its draft administrative budget for the year.
Votes at a glance: First Colony Wine and Spirit (Prakash Kumar Patel and Milton F. Kopsey) — 90-day extension of conditional approval granted unanimously; Hill Store (Michael W. Joy) — 60-day extension of conditional approval granted unanimously; Last Drop LLC / Twisted Bar and Grill (Michael L. Greenlee and Mark W. Aldridge) — transfer and permission for extension of premises, granted conditionally for 90 days pending comptroller clearance and business license; Angelic Kitchen (Angela Gizifonia) — conditional Class B restaurant license approved for 90 days subject to business license, health department approval, fire marshal approval and final UNO; Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar — administrator trade-name change approved; board draft budget — approved.
Board Chair David Willenborg opened the meeting and the board handled routine approvals of the agenda and prior minutes before taking up extensions. For First Colony the applicants said construction and interior finishing were complete and the remaining items were scheduling final county inspections; the board approved a 90-day extension to give time for inspections to be scheduled. Michael W. Joy told the board his outstanding contingency was a back-tax payment that he expected to clear; the board approved a 60-day extension for Hill Store.
The board approved the transfer of the Last Drop County Bar license to Michael L. Greenlee and Mark W. Aldridge and granted permission for outdoor service and an extra serving counter. The board made the transfer conditional on clearance from the Maryland Comptroller and receipt of a business license, and limited the approval to a 90-day conditional period while applicants complete required documents.
The board approved a conditional Class B restaurant license for Angela Gizifonia to operate Angelic Kitchen at Historic St. Mary's City, requesting construction and safety contingencies be completed before final licensing. Angela Gizifonia said she intends to open in spring 2025 and that she and consultant Rob Plant will require multiple agency approvals; Mr. Plant told the board he will assist with staff training and regulatory compliance.
Tammy Hildebrand, board staff, outlined typical conditions the board requires for new or transferred licenses, including a business license, health department preliminary approval, fire marshal clearance and final UNO. Hildebrand noted that some transfers remain subject to outstanding comptroller holds and that renewal season remains in progress.
In administrative reports, Deputy Stephen Myers reported that December compliance checks covered 19 establishments and resulted in three violations; the enforcement unit also reported seven DUI arrests in December. Board staff said there will be no RAST training in March and that February's session will serve as the last class until May. The board adopted the draft budget presented by staff.
Several motions were unanimous; the Twisted Bar and Grill and Angelic Kitchen approvals were conditional and require applicants to return with the specified documentation. The board reminded applicants of the 30-day appeal right to the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County and noted the transcription-fee requirement for appeals.
