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Howard County board approves transfer of Lou and Joe’s liquor license over two dissenting votes
Summary
The Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board approved the transfer of a Class D seven‑day on/off‑sale license for Lou and Joe’s to Jazzwick Corporation by a 3–2 vote. Board members expressed concern about the applicant’s prior violations but approved the transfer with the applicants waiving appeal rights.
A majority of the Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board approved on July 9 the transfer of a Class D seven‑day on/off‑sale beer, wine and liquor license for Jazzwick Corporation, which will operate as Lou and Joe’s.
The board voted 3–2 to grant the transfer after applicant Kewal Kumar Patel, who testified he will own 35 percent of the business and be on-site regularly, pledged to retain existing staff and to implement stricter carding and point‑of‑sale checks. “So without, I mean, ID, we will not serve anyone,” Patel said, describing a POS process that will require entering a birth date from the ID to validate age. He also said employees who handle alcohol are TIPS certified and that the business will operate roughly 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., matching current hours.
Why it matters: Board members raised repeated‑violation concerns during questioning. Members referenced a prior violation in August 2021 and a more recent April 11, 2024 incident at other establishments where Patel had worked; Patel told the board fines and training stemming from past incidents had been completed. Counsel for the applicants said the current owners have run Lou and Joe’s for 25 years and that the new owners do not plan operational changes.
Board deliberations highlighted a split: some members said the applicant’s steps and reliance on long‑time, certified staff justified approval, while others said repeated violations undermine confidence in placing a license under new management. “I don’t have the confidence right now,” one member said, citing the proximity of the most recent violation to the pending application.
Motion and vote: Board member Chen moved to approve the transfer and the motion was seconded; the recorded vote was 3 in favor (including Chair Sung and Miss Kim) and 2 opposed (Mister Hunt and Miss Johnson). Counsel confirmed the applicants waived their right to an appeal at the hearing.
What happens next: The license transfer was approved effective at the board action; the applicants waived appeal rights, removing the usual appeal window. The board moved on to the evening’s second matter at the same meeting.
Sources: Testimony and questioning at the July 9 Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board meeting.
