Howard County hearing continues on MD Fine Wine & Spirits application after contested testimony and expert market study

The Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board continued the hearing on an application for a new Class A seven‑day off‑sale beer, wine and liquor license for Madhuv LLC, which proposes to operate as MD Fine Wine & Spirits at a planned shopping‑center location along U.S. 1 in Elkridge. The hearing on the application began June 10 and was not concluded; the board scheduled a continuation and invited rebuttal and closing statements.

Applicant Hitesh Vaidya (also presented as Hitesh Wadeya/Vaidya in testimony) and counsel Norman J. Kodensky presented sworn testimony describing the proposed operation: a roughly 2,400‑square‑foot store with a planned 17‑door beer cooler, about 40–50% of the sales floor devoted to wine, and inventory plans focused on Maryland craft producers plus higher‑end wines and distilled spirits. Vaidya told the board he expects a buildout cost in the “$250,000 to $300,000” range and an opening‑day wine inventory of approximately $180,000–$200,000; he said the store would be open roughly 9 a.m. to midnight and that he intends to work long hours on site.

Economic testimony: The…