New Liquor Store Approved For Point Lookout Road In Leonardtown

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A Point Lookout Road storefront that has housed liquor stores under different names is preparing for another fresh start with new owners and a new company.

The St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board unanimously granted conditional approval Aug. 13 to Leonardtown Fine Wine and Spirits, a new liquor store planned for 25470 Point Lookout Road, Unit B.

The store will be owned by Jignesh R. Patel and Bryan O’Neal Yates through Luxury Liquors LLC. Although it will operate from the former Leonardtown Wine & Spirits location, testimony during the meeting made clear that it is a new business rather than a continuation or simple extension of the previous operation.

When asked whether the applicants planned to retain any employees from the former store, they said they did not.

“This is a new business going in,” Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement Coordinator Stephen Myers clarified.

New Owners Take Over Familiar Location

Attorney John Quinn, representing Luxury Liquors LLC, told the board that Patel and Yates were seeking a new Class A-1 beer, wine and liquor license.

The license would allow the business to sell beer, wine and spirits for customers to take home. Alcohol may not be opened or consumed on the premises except during authorized tasting events.

“We’re applying for a new liquor license — Class A beer, wine and liquor license — and the tasting permit,” Quinn said.

The new store is planned for the Breton Market Place shopping center near MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. The storefront was historically home to Guenther’s Fine Wine & Spirits and later operated as Leonardtown Wine & Spirits.

The newly approved Leonardtown Fine Wine and Spirits has a similar name but will operate as a new business under Luxury Liquors LLC, owned by Jignesh R. Patel and Bryan O’Neal Yates.

Fifteen Years Of Industry Experience

Patel told the board that he has approximately 15 years of experience managing liquor stores throughout Maryland.

After working in the alcohol retail industry, he moved into the recycling business. He now plans to return to alcohol retail as an owner.

“I worked for 15 years with the liquor stores,” Patel said. “I never had any issue for selling to underage people or anything — no violation at all. So I know how to run the liquor store.”

Patel said he expects to work at the store daily for its first six or seven months. Once additional employees are trained, he plans to visit and oversee the business two or three times each week.

Yates said he does not have direct liquor-store experience but has worked as a mobile bartender for approximately a year and a half.

Both owners told the board they had reviewed the laws and local regulations governing alcohol sales and would comply with those requirements.

Every Customer Will Be Asked For Identification

The store plans to use a point-of-sale system requiring identification to be checked for every alcohol purchase, regardless of the customer’s apparent age.

“We’re going to have a liquor POS system which has a 100% ID check,” Patel said.

When a board member asked Yates whether he also understood that to be the store’s policy, he answered, “One hundred percent.”

Patel said his past experience taught him how important consistent identification checks are for preventing sales to customers younger than 21.

The owners are also enrolling in responsible alcohol service training. Under local requirements, they will have 90 days to complete the required training.

Tastings Planned To Introduce Products

Along with its retail license, Leonardtown Fine Wine and Spirits received permission for a 365-day beer, wine and liquor tasting permit.

The permit does not mean tastings will be continuously available every day. It allows the business to conduct product tastings on approved days throughout the year while following local regulations.

Patel said the tastings would help customers sample products before deciding what to purchase and allow the new store to introduce its wine and spirits selection.

“The tasting intention is to try to sell, because this is a new business I’m starting,” Patel said.

A board member clarified that tastings would allow customers to sample products in advance of a potential purchase. Patel agreed.

Approval Comes With Conditions

The liquor board approved the application unanimously, but the store may not begin alcohol sales until several outstanding requirements are completed.

The applicants were given up to 90 days to satisfy the conditions.

That 90-day period is not an extension of the former business’s license. It is a standard conditional approval period giving the new owners time to submit the necessary documents before the license becomes effective.

Patel told the board that the fire marshal and Town of Leonardtown had already inspected the property and that he expected the remaining approvals to move forward.

Daily Operations Planned

The owners proposed operating Leonardtown Fine Wine and Spirits from 8 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, subject to the hours permitted by its license and applicable local regulations.

Patel said he intends to be closely involved during the store’s opening months, training employees and establishing its identification and compliance procedures.

One board member acknowledged that the location has experienced challenges under previous operators but expressed hope that the new ownership would bring better results.

“This address hasn’t had the best luck in the last, I don’t know, year or so,” the board member said.

Patel responded that the new ownership could make that history an opportunity.

“Probably it is good for us,” he said, adding that the business would strictly follow alcohol laws and regulations.

The owners did not announce an opening date during the meeting. The store’s conditional approval will remain pending until all required licenses, permits and inspections are completed.

Watch approval below at 17:51.

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