Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board Meeting - March 24, 2026
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Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board Meeting - March 24, 2026
The Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board met on March 24, 2026 at 6:30 PM in the Banneker Room (3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD) and via WebEx. The board considered three agenda items: a transfer with extension of premises for Compadres, a new license for Sushi Tendou (continued from January 13, 2026), and a new license with a wine corkage permit for Dwaraka's Bawarchi Indian Kitchen. All applicants were represented by liquor license consultant Martin Johnson.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimous approval of the minutes from February 24, 2026 (moved, seconded, all members voted yes).
Discussion Items
1. Transfer + Extension of Premises: BinBiv Enterprises, LLC t/a Los Compadres to OSG Group, LLC t/a Compadres
- Applicant: George Brack (20% owner, general manager) and Leo Giraldo (80% owner).
- Location: 10805 Birmingham Way, Woodstock, MD (1,482 sq. ft. restaurant with proposed 60 sq. ft. exterior patio with three high-top tables seating up to 9).
- Key testimony:
- Mr. Brack has 7 years of experience in alcohol service, holds alcohol awareness certification, and works ~50 hours/week.
- The restaurant is food-focused (estimated >80% food sales), with alcohol primarily beer, wine, and margaritas.
- Outdoor area would be marked with potted plants, light chains between columns, and table tents; no self-seating; servers would attend.
- Alcohol to-go would be sold only with food and sealed, as per law.
- Board concerns: Chair Chen expressed reservations about the outdoor area not being fully enclosed, citing past experiences where barriers were not maintained. Other members noted the small size (6–9 people) and minimal risk.
- Deliberation: The board voted separately on the transfer and the extension.
2. New License (Continued): Tendou Kanbuku, LLC t/a Sushi Tendou
- Applicants: Xiao Min Jiang (assistant GM, U.S. citizen) and Maria Eugina Hu (GM, permanent resident). New applicant since prior hearing; Maria Hu added as resident agent.
- Location: 8194 Westside Boulevard, Suite G, Fulton, MD (2,049 sq. ft., 70 dining seats + 10 sushi bar seats).
- Key testimony:
- Maria Hu has 7 years at the restaurant, works 66 hours/week, previously handled alcohol under prior owner.
- Xiao Min Jiang works 55 hours/week as assistant manager, alcohol certified.
- The prior license was surrendered due to the previous owner's non-cooperation; alcohol was removed from premises.
- Four employees currently alcohol certified; managers and servers oversee service.
- Estimated alcohol sales <50%; no plans for to-go or delivery alcohol.
- Management chart provided at board's request.
- Board comments: Appreciation for the management chart and addition of Maria Hu. Recommendation that the 75% owners (not working) obtain alcohol certification.
- Unanimous approval.
3. New License + Wine Corkage Permit: Dwaraka's Bawarchi Columbia, LLC t/a Dwaraka's Bawarchi Indian Kitchen
- Applicant: Mary Cleona Maddala (owner, works 16 hrs/week, employed by IRS). Managing partners: husband Prasana Kakumani (34 hrs/week) and Suresh Paramala (32 hrs/week).
- Location: 7185-A Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD (3,400 sq. ft., 81 seats + 7 bar seats, 427 sq. ft. patio).
- Key testimony:
- Restaurant opened Oct 2024; previous incarnation served alcohol under different owner; customers have been asking for alcohol, and ~50% of groups inquire.
- Three alcohol-certified individuals (Maddala, Kakumani, Paramala); plan to certify more.
- Outdoor patio would have 4-ft privacy wall with artificial ivy; designated server; no self-seating.
- No plans for alcohol to-go or delivery.
- Wine corkage permit requested to allow customers to bring their own wine for special occasions (rarely used).
- Board concerns: Lack of experience with alcohol service (Maddala no restaurant background, Kakumani had deli experience, Paramala ~1 year). Corkage permit considered unnecessary for a new establishment.
- Deliberation: Board members noted passion and preparation but had reservations about corkage. Motion made to grant the main license; no motion made for corkage, so it was denied.
Key Outcomes
- Transfer + Extension for Compadres:
- Transfer of Class B Beer, Wine & Liquor license approved (4-0: Chair Chen, Hunt, Johnson, Kim all yes).
- Extension of premises for 60 sq. ft. exterior patio approved (3-1: Hunt, Johnson, Kim yes; Chair Chen no).
- Applicant waived right to appeal.
- New License for Sushi Tendou: Granted (4-0). Applicants waived right to appeal.
- New License for Dwaraka's Bawarchi Indian Kitchen: Granted (4-0).
- Wine Corkage Permit: Not granted (no motion made; board advised applicant could reapply after gaining experience).
- Applicant waived right to appeal.
Meeting Transcript
I think there are uh three matters in front of Alpha, but first of all, uh let's approve the minutes of uh February 24th, 2026. Uh I uh I believe that uh board members have already reviewed the minutes. Do I have a motion? Yeah, uh move to approve the meet the minutes of the alcohol beverage hearing board of February 24th, 2026. I second. Okay. Chair Chen. Uh yes, Mr. Hunt. Yes, Ms. Johnson. Yes, Miss Kim. Yes. All right. Well, I know this uh three matters, uh oh, Mr. Johnson now. All right. So the first matter is uh the transfer and extension of of premises of class B beer, wine, and the liquor seven-day Al Nelfell license from uh Bin Beef Enterprises LLC treating us uh Los Padres in the names of uh Romeo Custodio Pacoa Pachoa Pachoka Um Gregory James Bini and uh Andrea Nico Beans to OSG groups treating us uh compadres in the name of uh George Breck. The location is uh 10805 Birmingham Way, Woodstock, Maryland. Mr. Johnson. Wait one second, Mr. Chair. Um as always the all of the documents in the files are incorporated by reference. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um for the record, my name is Martin Johnson. I'm a liquor licensed consultant. And uh I have a request this evening of the board. Now at prior hearings, uh board members have asked me to ask my clients questions to actually bring out information uh previously from clients and other witnesses, and I wonder if I can have permission to do that tonight. I usually have them speak for themselves, but the more I progress, the more I find that it's more comprehensive and accurate if I ask the questions and just have them answer. So if that's all right with the board, I'd like to do that. Yeah, no objections. All right, great. So tonight. Uh wait, I I guess I need to swear you in and also uh exactly too. So let's do it uh in one batch, right? So all three. I mean one by one, one by one. One by one. One by one. No, I mean uh I don't have to do it, you know, swear you in and then talk and then swear them in. Understand, yeah. All right. Uh do you do you do you swear that the testimony that you're gonna give be give today will be the choose whole choose, nothing but the choose. I do. I do. Okay. So for each of you state your name and address for the record.
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