Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Licensing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sapwood Sellers brewery cleared to expand space, add kitchen and upgrade to beer‑wine‑liquor license
Summary
Howard County’s Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board approved Sapwood Sellers LLC’s application to convert its D‑class tasting‑room license to a seven‑day beer, wine and liquor license and to extend its premises to add a full kitchen and roughly 15 additional tables.
The Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board unanimously approved Sapwood Sellers LLC’s request to change its license class and extend its premises, allowing the Columbia brewery to add a full kitchen and an expanded tasting room.
At the Aug. 27 hearing, Mike Hansmeier, an applicant for Sapwood Sellers, told the board the business is approaching its sixth anniversary and has sought permits and HACCP plans from Howard County to add a full kitchen. He said the expansion involves combining adjacent suites and converting warehouse space into seating and a potential private‑events room. “We’re really looking forward to being some place where people can come for, you know, a couple hours,” Hansmeier said.
The applicants said they seek a full beer, wine and liquor seven‑day license but do not intend to operate as a late‑night bar. Spencer Love, identified on the record as the company’s resident agent and general manager, said the plan is to maintain family‑friendly service and add “tacos as sort of the general theme.” He added that managers are alcohol‑awareness certified and that the business is working with point‑of‑sale vendors to offer both QR ordering and handheld ordering by staff.
Board members questioned the source of added seating and whether the business would increase on‑premises service. An official asked about an increase in square footage; the applicants said the licensed area would expand from about 7,200 to approximately 11,916 square feet by incorporating adjacent suites and adding roughly 15 tables. The applicants told the board they had no liquor‑law violations since their original licensing and that no owners had criminal convictions.
Several board members praised the applicants’ community involvement, citing past fundraisers and collaborations with local groups. One member encouraged the applicants to ensure servers obtain alcohol‑awareness training as seating and table service increase.
A board member moved to approve the change of class and premises for Sapwood Sellers LLC d/b/a Sapwood Sellers, including the revised square footage and a patio area at 8980 Route 108 in Columbia. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote with all members present voting yes. The applicants waived their right to appeal.
The approval allows Sapwood Sellers to proceed with construction and the planned food service additions under local and state permitting processes; the board did not set additional conditions beyond the representations made at the hearing.
