Story Category: The Bay Net Exclusives »

A new Tex-Mex restaurant is coming to the former location of Lone Star Steakhouse on Route 235 in Lexington Park. The St. Mary’s Alcohol Beverage Board (liquor board) approved a license Thursday for CoCo Cantina. The approval of the Class B (restaurant) Beer, Wine and Liquor License is contingent on receipt of a Use and Occupancy Permit from the Department of Land Use and Growth Management.

Licensees are George Aubrey, Melissa Rivers and Claire Andrews. Aubrey said he holds licenses in Virginia and operates six Mexican restaurants there. He said the CoCo Cantina is a new concept that they hope to roll out to other locations in Maryland. Aubrey said they expect to open as soon as they receive the permit from the county.

Liquor Board Chairman Moses Saldana, Jr. expressed pleasure that a vacant store was being reoccupied and wished the owners “luck and success there.” He said the Pride in the Park Parade last Saturday was an indication of the community’s interest in removing blight.

The application was approved unanimously by the three members voting. Linda Palchinsky recused herself because her daughter is one of the applicants. Board member William Cullins III was not in attendance.