Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board Meeting - July 21, 2026

The Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board convened on July 21, 2026, at 6:30 PM in hybrid format (Banneker Room, Ellicott City and WebEx) to consider three license applications: a new Class B license for Ledo Pizza Clarksville, a transfer of a Class B license for House of India, and a change in class to a Class D distillery license for JS Brewery. The board approved all three applications unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of June 23, 2026: Approved on a motion by Chair Chen, seconded by Mr. Coleman. Vote: Chair Chen yes, Mr. Coleman yes, Mr. Hunt yes, Ms. Johnson abstained, Ms. Kemp yes. (The transcript shows Ms. Johnson abstained for minutes; for subsequent votes she voted yes.)

Discussion Items

• New Class B License – DSMS Pizza, LLC t/a Ledo Pizza Clarksville: Applicant Dhvani Vyas sought a 7-day on-sale license for a 2,377 sq. ft. restaurant at 6030 Daybreak Circle, Clarksville. The board had approved a transfer of an existing license in 2025, but it expired due to tax issues. The new application also requested permission to sell liquor (previously beer/wine only) because of customer demand for ready-to-drink cocktails. Vyas testified he owns the business, works 25+ hours weekly, and expects alcohol sales under 10% of revenue. He has alcohol awareness certification and prior experience at other Ledo Pizza locations. A prior violation at Players Bar & Grill (2019, impermissible relationship with a wholesaler) was discussed. The board confirmed Vyas was not notified at the time because he was not the resident agent; he had sold his interest before the violation. The board found the situation different and noted his current operation has a manager and controls. The application was approved unanimously.
• Transfer of Class B License – Trinity Hub, LLC t/a House of India: Applicant Ranju Sharma Giri sought to become the sole licensee of the existing 1,970 sq. ft. restaurant at 9350 Snowden River Parkway, Suite F2, Columbia, by purchasing 100% of the LLC. She has worked at the restaurant for six months and plans to keep current staff, including a manager with 15 years of experience who is TIPS certified. She will work daily and handle alcohol records with the manager. The board expressed concern about her limited experience with alcohol regulations (she had worked previously at fast-food chains) and her hesitation in answering questions. However, given the manager’s longevity, no prior violations at the establishment, and the low-risk nature of a Class B license, the board approved 5-0 with encouragement to complete further training.
• Change in Class to Class D – JS Brewery, LLC t/a JS Brewery: Applicant Rajiv Kumar Aggarwal sought to upgrade from a Class B beer license to a Class D beer, wine, and liquor license plus an on-site consumption permit for a distillery, at 8970-B Route 108, Columbia. The 2,606 sq. ft. facility is a Korean makgeolli (rice wine) brewery and educational space. The change would allow production of traditional soju (distilled liquor) and eventual sale of a limited selection of other Korean alcohols. Aggarwal, who is not Korean but lived in Korea and is married to a Korean chemist, emphasized the cultural and educational mission. The brewery is open 2–6 PM Tuesday–Saturday, with small batches (5–20 gallons). The board praised the unique business, noting no violations and strong community interest. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• New License (Ledo Pizza Clarksville): Approved 5-0 (Chair Chen, Coleman, Hunt, Johnson, Kemp all yes). Applicant waived right to appeal.
• Transfer License (House of India): Approved 5-0 (same vote). Applicant waived right to appeal; counsel pledged additional training.
• Change in Class (JS Brewery): Approved 5-0 (same vote). Applicant waived right to appeal.
• Next meeting tentatively scheduled for August 25, 2026 (subject to change).