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Howard County Alcohol Board approves five on‑sale liquor licenses, postpones one after staffing and compliance questions
Summary
At its Oct. 28 hearing the Howard County Alcohol Board approved five Class B on‑sale licenses or transfers for local restaurants and postponed a sixth application after asking the owner to return with a manager and an additional co‑applicant; several approvals followed applicant assurances on training and ID policies.
The Howard County Alcohol Board on Oct. 28 approved five Class B on‑sale liquor licenses or transfers for local restaurants and postponed one application after board members pressed applicants for clearer management and record‑keeping safeguards.
The board approved a new license for Tony’s of NY Pizza Kitchen, a transfer of a Daejeong/Gwee Jib license to new owners, a transfer to Barrington Tap & Table, a new license for KUSAN Japanese Barbecue, and a new license for Squezito Pizza & Pasta. The board postponed action on Urban Hot Pot and asked the owner to return with a current on‑site manager and an additional applicant or co‑licensee.
Why it matters: the licenses allow restaurants to sell alcohol on site and, in some cases, to sell sealed alcohol for off‑premises consumption. Board members focused deliberations on applicant fitness for license holding — specifically on consistent on‑site supervision, alcohol‑awareness training for servers and managers, ID and carding procedures, and recordkeeping practices when past counts or violations were in an applicant’s history.
Attorney representing the Tony’s applicant summarized the owner’s experience, saying, “Mr. Falcone has been in the restaurant business for 39 years,” and the board approved the Tony’s application after applicants described a counter‑service format, beer‑and‑wine sales only, carding for customers who appear under 40 and a planned February 2026 opening.
On the transfer of the Daejeong license, John Shen and co‑owner Sua Lee described a continuity of operations and a management plan that Shen said he would oversee while training Lee. Via the interpreter, Lee pledged corrective steps after prior incidents at a different Baltimore location: “I will retrain my employers,” she said through the interpreter, and the board approved the transfer.
KUSAN’s owners acknowledged prior inspection counts tied to storage and recordkeeping for related locations. Owner Ken Wong told the board about the March 2024 counts: “We just wasn't able to show it to the inspector. But then the next day, we already show them,” and said the chain would add monthly record checks and meetings to prevent recurrence. Several board members voiced concern about organizational complexity and documentation; after deliberation the board voted to approve the application.
Christopher Rodney, applying for a license for Squezito Pizza & Pasta in Ellicott City, described manager coverage and a strict ID policy: “We just don't take vertical IDs, and we card everybody,” he said. The board approved his application.
On Urban Hot Pot — an application from an owner whose prior license lapsed because renewal notices were missed — the board recommended the applicant return with a current on‑site manager and either add a co‑applicant or otherwise strengthen local operational oversight. The board voted to postpone that application.
Votes at a glance - Tony's of NY Pizza Kitchen (new Class B on‑sale): approved (roll call: yes). - Daejeong → Gooi Jib LLC (license transfer, Shen & Lee): approved (roll call: yes). - Barrington LLC (transfer to Barrington Tap & Table, Deganji & Salandra): approved (roll call: yes). - KUSAN Columbia LLC (new Class B on‑sale): approved after deliberation (roll call: yes). - Urban Hot Pot (new application after lapse): postponed pending submission of additional materials and manager testimony. - Squezito Pizza & Pasta (new Class B on‑sale for Christopher Rodney): approved (roll call: yes).
What to watch: the board repeatedly emphasized follow‑up enforcement and the annual renewal process; members noted that if violations recur the board has authority to apply more severe penalties. Several approvals were conditioned implicitly on the applicants maintaining the management and training commitments described at the hearing.
The hearing concluded after final votes; applicants waived immediate appeals when asked by counsel.
(Reporting: Howard County Alcohol Board hearing, Oct. 28, 2025.)
