Howard County board grants Class B license to Namu Ramen and Rolls

The Howard County Alcohol Beverage Board voted to grant a seven‑day Class B beer, wine and liquor license to Namu RR LLC, doing business as Namu Ramen and Rolls, after the applicant answered questions about staffing, training and ID checks.

Ginny Kim Choi, sworn as the license applicant and identified as the 100% owner, told the board she and her husband will manage day‑to‑day operations, that the restaurant has about 10 employees and that she will train staff on ID verification. “I will donate to the local fire and police department,” Choi said when asked about community contributions.

Gregory Lee, counsel for the applicant, described the venue as a restaurant of about 2,200 interior square feet with roughly 494 square feet of outdoor space and confirmed Choi is a Maryland resident and registered voter. Board members questioned how the establishment will identify intoxication and verify acceptable IDs; Choi and counsel said employees will be trained, that acceptable forms of ID include state driver’s licenses, passports and military IDs, and that records and invoices will be kept in accordance with Board rules.

Several board members urged that anyone who handles alcohol be alcohol‑awareness certified. One member said they were “a little concerned” that many servers are 18 and recommended hiring older or certified staff; another urged the board’s standard that anyone who will handle alcohol should receive formal training.

After brief debate, a board member moved to approve the license; the motion carried and the applicant waived the right to appeal.