LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board on Thursday approved a slate of license transfers and new applications, including a transfer for the landmark Front Porch restaurant in Leonardtown and a new sports bar in California.
The board granted a 90-day conditional transfer of The Front Porch Class B restaurant beer, wine and liquor license to Gautam Patel and Shailesh Patel, who are purchasing the downtown restaurant from current owners Jeffrey P. Lewis and Jordan Walker. The license covers the restaurant at 22770 Washington Street and includes permission for outdoor seating on the porch and lawn.
Attorney David Weigel, representing the buyers, said they plan no major changes to the popular restaurant and will keep existing management while emphasizing 100% ID checks and having TIPS- or TAM-certified staff on site whenever alcohol is served. The board’s conditional approval is contingent on closing on the sale of the business and real estate, a new lease between the property and business entities, a commercial use-and-occupancy permit and issuance of a business (trader’s) license.
In California, the board approved a new Class B restaurant beer, wine and liquor license for LUX Sports Bar & Grill, to be operated by Leatrice Dawkins under LUX Brands LLC at 22576 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 314, in the San Souci Plaza. Dawkins, a retired Army and Navy veteran and longtime drug and alcohol counselor, told the board she plans a full-service sports bar and restaurant in a space that has been vacant since a previous restaurant closed more than a decade ago.
Her attorney said the kitchen, bar and plumbing have been rebuilt and that only a follow-up fire marshal inspection and use-and-occupancy permit remain before opening. The board granted a 90-day conditional approval subject to fire marshal signoff, health department approval and the UNO.
The board also approved a Class B restaurant license and outdoor seating for Rucci’s Italian Kitchen & Grille in the former Town Diner space on Washington Street in Leonardtown. Partners Jamil Jamaldinian, Mynor Hernandez and Lucy Stillwell said the restaurant will be a second location for the family-style Italian concept, with a focus on large portions, bourbon and scotch selections, and limited sidewalk seating at the front entrance.
The Rucci’s license was approved on a 90-day conditional basis, requiring fire marshal, health department and business license approvals and a commercial use-and-occupancy permit.
Separately, the board signed off on officer changes for two existing licenses, removing Michael Venendaal and adding Timothy Brian Grube for Old Line Restaurant and Pub, and removing Lyndon E. Carter and adding Paula Butler for LongHorn Steakhouse.
Watch the full meeting below:
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