Caroline County board approves transfer of Caroline’s liquor license in Denton

The Caroline County Board of License Commissioners voted Sept. 25 to approve the transfer of the Class B beer, wine and liquor restaurant license for Caroline’s at 406 Market Street in Denton to Z Cooks LLC, pending completion of outstanding staff items.

Nancy Minahan, who said she started Get Restaurant Group LLC and currently owns the property, told the board the buyer — Robin and Ken (Ken will be executive chef) — will buy the restaurant assets and intends to keep most front‑of‑house staff. "We have managed to keep going and we won a lot of great awards," Minahan said, describing the business as a farm‑to‑table restaurant that uses local purveyors.

Staff listed outstanding items required before issuance of the new license, including the $75 state transfer fee, proof of the alcohol awareness certification, environmental health department approval, Maryland sales and use tax license, workers' compensation certificate, registration with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, and a notarized bulk transfer affidavit allowing the new owners to operate under the old license until the transfer is finalized. The board discussed timing for the required inspections and paperwork; staff said the administrative transfer typically takes 30 days, and applicants requested additional time for hard‑to‑schedule items such as a fire marshal inspection.

A board member moved to approve the transfer "pending that all outstanding items on a staff report have been taken care of" and asked that the applicants be given extra time to complete the requirements if needed. The motion carried by voice vote. The chair closed the item by wishing the applicants luck.

The board’s approval authorizes operation under the old license until the transaction is complete; final issuance of the new license was conditioned on staff verification of the listed documents and approvals.