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Howard County board approves transfer of Bare Bones liquor license to BHI Inc.
Summary
The Howard County Alcohol Beverage Hearing Board unanimously approved transfer of Bare Bones’ Class B beer, wine and liquor license to BHI Inc. after applicants and the restaurant’s longtime manager described staffing, training and community ties.
The Howard County Alcohol Beverage Hearing Board unanimously approved the transfer of a Class B beer, wine and liquor seven-day on/off-sale license for Bare Bones Grill & Bar to BHI Inc. at its Dec. 9 hearing.
Martin Johnson, a consultant with Maryland Liquor License Services, introduced applicants Gaurav “Sunny” Bhatia and investor Sanjay Anand and said Bare Bones has held an alcohol license at the St. John’s Shopping Center location for 37 years. “With only one exception, all of the previous staff are staying on,” Johnson told the board, noting continuity in management and compliance steps taken by the new owners.
Applicant Gaurav Bhatia, who identified himself as a Howard County resident and longtime local volunteer, said he is managing the restaurant and that alcohol accounts for about 25% of the business. “We do understand that the distributor records must be kept on the premises for two years,” Bhatia said, adding that certified staff will be present when alcohol is served. Jessica Butler, the restaurant’s alcohol manager of 18 years, told the board she trains new staff on age-verification policies and carries out ID checks. “We do a 30-and-under needs to be ID’d,” Butler said.
Board members asked about staffing and supervision when the applicant is not on site; Bhatia said the restaurant has five managers and at least one manager is present at all times. After a brief deliberation, a board member moved to approve the license transfer; the motion was seconded and the five board members present voted yes. The applicant waived the right to appeal at the hearing.
The board’s approval transfers the license from Bare Bones of Howard County Inc., trading as Bare Bones Grill and Bar (owners listed in the record) to BHI Inc., trading as Bare Bones Grill and Bar, for the existing restaurant and patio at the Ellicott City address listed in the file.
The decision was recorded as a unanimous approval; the board offered the applicants congratulations and closed the item.
