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Howard County approves Class D license for Park Social (Bark Social) dog‑park venue
Summary
The board approved a new Class D (on‑sale) beer, wine and liquor license for Social Pets Columbia LLC, trading as Park Social (Bark Social). Owner Bradley Notaro said the Columbia location will mirror a Baltimore site, include trained staff, a fenced patio and safety policies; commissioners raised questions about hours, staffing and the business model before a unanimous vote.
The Howard County Alcohol Board on Aug. 26 granted a new Class D (on‑sale) beer, wine and liquor license to Social Pets Columbia LLC, operating as Park Social (Bark Social), for a Merriweather‑area dog‑park venue.
Applicant Bradley Notaro, sworn in at the hearing, described the business as a community space for dog owners and said alcohol would be an amenity rather than the primary driver. Notaro said staff will be trained in responsible service and that the company already operates a Baltimore location with a liquor license. "We will strictly comply with all local, state, and federal alcohol regulations" and "we will strictly check IDs for every alcohol purchase," Notaro told the board.
Notaro described the licensed area as an approximately 4,500‑square‑foot covered patio, surrounded by multiple fences to control access. He said operations would include a general manager, a bar manager and two bartenders per shift; he estimated alcohol would make up about half of gross sales, with about 25% from food and 25% from memberships. Commissioners questioned staffing levels, hours of operation (Notaro said the prior license had 9 a.m.–11 p.m. hours) and the newness of the Baltimore location; despite those questions, members said the concept could add a family‑friendly amenity to the county and moved to approve the license. The applicant waived the right to appeal at the hearing.
