College Park council to support Samosas & Spirits' request for Sunday packaged‑sales, asks for six‑month review

The College Park City Council voted to send a letter to the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners supporting an applicant’s request for a special Sunday off‑sale permit that would allow packaged sales of beer, wine and distilled spirits on Sundays at a combined restaurant/liquor‑store business in the city.

City staff presented the request (agenda item 25‑G‑69) and described the package submitted by Samosas and Spirits LLC. The applicant’s attorney, Linda Carter, told council that state and county law permit a licensed establishment to seek a special Sunday off‑sale permit; she asked the council to support the request and noted the company’s investment in the site.

Council members raised several concerns during the discussion: the required $50,000 appearance/rehabilitation investment triggered by county rules and whether the already‑substantial owner expenditures should count toward that requirement; the business’s combined restaurant/liquor‑store layout and how that is displayed to the public; neighborhood outreach and whether nearby civic groups and apartment communities had been consulted; and how enforcement of the property use agreement would be handled if issues emerged.

Samosas and Spirits’ owners and counsel described the business as a combined cafe and packaged‑sales operation; the owners said the site has both a food service area and retail alcohol inventory and reported modest early sales, arguing the Sunday permit is needed to improve viability. Attorney Carter told council that the county’s Board of License Commissioners has authority to waive the $50,000 requirement in some circumstances and asked city council to support a waiver request to avoid an additional mandatory $50,000 investment that would duplicate recent construction and fit‑out costs.

After discussion, council members moved and seconded a recommendation to the county board supporting the special Sunday off‑sale permit, conditioned on an amended property‑use agreement and the city attorney’s approval of that amendment. Council members also asked staff to return with a status update in roughly six months so the council could review any community impacts. The motion instructed the city manager to transmit a letter of city support to the county board. The county board retains final licensing authority.

The support letter will reflect council conditions; the city’s action does not itself grant the county license. The council’s recommendation to the county was recorded on the meeting floor; the county hearing and licensing process are separate. Councilmembers emphasized that the city retains enforcement tools — including the property‑use agreement — and that the council expects a report back if the community or staff raise operational concerns.

Quotes (from meeting): "Every tub has to stand on its own bottom," attorney Linda Carter said in urging the council to evaluate the current application on its merits rather than by past precedent. Applicant Sumit Kaneja said the business has invested in both the restaurant and retail sides and said Sunday sales would help a small, new local business survive.

Next steps: staff will finalize the amended property‑use agreement with applicant counsel, the city manager will transmit the letter of support to the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners, and staff will bring an update to council in approximately six months.