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Board approves transfer of River Hill Wine and Spirits to Hydra Investments (owner Nandita Manroy)
Summary
Howard County’s Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board approved transfer of a Class A off‑sale license for River Hill Wine and Spirits to Hydra Investments LLC; the board cited a thorough transition plan, retained staff and a strong compliance record.
The Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board approved the transfer of a Class A (beer, wine, liquor) seven‑day off‑sale license for River Hill Wine and Spirits to Hydra Investments LLC, whose sole member is Nandita Manroy.
Martin Johnson, who presented the application, said Manroy is the 100% owner of Hydra Investments LLC and that a state alcohol bulk transfer permit application was filed on Aug. 1. Johnson described the store as a destination for Maryland‑made products and attested to the outgoing proprietor’s long record of compliance and use of an ID‑checking system. “They run it very tightly,” Johnson said, noting successful enforcement against attempted underage purchases in the past.
Nandita Manroy told the board she has worked on site for about 2½ months, logging roughly 20–30 hours per week of hands‑on training, and that her husband will continue as a certified employee. She said she and retained staff will card customers who look under age 40, will not sell to those who appear intoxicated, and have cameras and a live feed for oversight. “We will be sure to have someone who’s certified in alcohol awareness on‑site at all times while the store is open,” Manroy said.
Krishna Patel, the current general manager, testified the store has cooperated with police to prevent underage sales, employs an ID‑scanning program and was 100% compliant at its last state inspection. Patel said she has trained Manroy and will be available as a resource during the transition.
Board members praised the apparent smooth handoff, the retention of experienced on‑site staff (including an employee identified as Shiv Patel), and Manroy’s local residency. A member noted that the transition plan and ongoing training supported approval. A motion to accept the transfer and issue a Class A BWLT seven‑day off‑sale license to Hydra Investments LLC d/b/a River Hill Wine and Spirits in the name of Nandita Manroy carried on roll call with all voting members in favor. Manroy waived her right to appeal.
The board made no additional conditions beyond the representations made at the hearing; the license transfer is subject to any further state administrative steps required for the bulk transfer process.
