La Plata, MD – These are some sad days for My Wayside Store in Newburg. Not only have they been before the Charles County Board of License Commissioners [Liquor Board] for show cause hearings in the recent past, but recently the store committed one of the cardinal sins of being in the liquor business: purchasing alcohol from a retailer in Prince George’s County for sale in Charles County. That will cost them.
The Liquor Board voted Thursday, May 11 to rescind the establishment’s license, fining the owner, Amit N. Patel, $5,000 and closing the establishment for a period of 14 days.
“This is a difficult case for me in terms of the severity of the case,” attorney Hammad S. Matin told the board. “It is unfortunate for me to represent licensees who are very good people but didn’t have very much control over the current management. This is not a business that is being run very well or very professionally,” he admitted.
“The board’s recommendation is a pretty severe one,” Matin added. “They are expecting to be shut down. They brought it on themselves. They’re clear-eyed about it.”
The owner, Amit Patel, lives in Texas and flew in for the show cause hearing May 11.
“Mr. Patel is not part of the day-to-day operations, which is part of the problem,” Matin said. “The business is struggling. It’s failing. We understand that when you have a liquor license and your name is on it and you’re not here watching it, that’s a problem.”
“Being not involved is just as bad as physically doing it,” Liquor Board Chair Pamela Smith pointed out.
Mae C. Wade, the local license holder, was also present.
After the board doled out its punishment, Attorney David Martinez, representing Brianna Brown and Jacqueline Jefferson, appeared before the board to have the license transferred from the previous owners of My Wayside Store to themselves.
“You are aware of the problems the store was having,” Martinez asked Brown.
“Yes,” she replied.
“You understand that the store is not doing well, but you feel you can turn it around,” the attorney asked.
“Yes,” Brown answered.
“You’ve heard all the conversation, you now know how tough it is,” said Liquor Board Member Guy Black. “I’m always coming down that direction to Cobb Island, so I can stop in and check on you We want to see you under pleasant circumstances.
“Just so you know, it is a serious venture,” Black added. “It’s on you. There is just no excuse to show up here in the next seven or eight months.”
The board approved the transfer, but made their decision contingent on the business not being allowed to open due to the 14-day suspension.
“They cannot open until the show cause order is complete,” said Member Steve Howe.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com