Does Route 235 have too many liquor stores? That was a question talked about at the September 8 Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary’s County (liquor board) meeting at which another license was granted.

Bill Winters, licensee of one of those stores, Twist Wine and Spirits, told the board he counted 11 liquor stores between Route 4 and Gate 1. “I’m all for competition but we do feel the saturation in the market,” he said in testifying against an application for a new liquor store in Lexington Village Shopping Center, where Kohl’s and Dicks Sporting Goods are now located.
The board voted 2-1 to approve a license for Hung Nguyen for a liquor store to be called Lexington Village Wine & Spirits. Nguyen testified he had no experience running a liquor store but he did have friends who have liquor stores and he has gotten advice from them. Nguyen’s attorney Michael Davis said his client had previously run a carpet installing business and was looking for something that would better suit his age and health.
Board member Linda Palchinsky asked, “Why do we need a liquor store at every stop light on Route 235 at every shopping center.” She added, “We are getting too many liquor stores. Every time someone puts up a shopping center they think they need a liquor store.”
Nguyen countered that he felt the customers for his store would be those going to the other stores in the new center and he would be providing a service to them. He feels the people who live in the developments behind the center on Buck Hewitt Road and Chancellor’s Run Road would most frequent his new store.
Dave Dent, representing the Licensed Beverage Association of St. Mary’s County also questioned the need, as he had at the last board meeting when he spoke out against a transfer of a license from McKay’s in Hollywood to their Wildewood location. “We are just getting over-saturated in the area.” He said.
Later in the meeting Dent suggested the need for legislation to put the burden of proof on the applicant to show need. There is a legislated cap on the number of liquor stores in each county election district based on population, but that cap has not been reached in the Eighth Election District, where Lexington Park and California are located.
Palchinsky also questioned giving a license to someone with no industry experience. Dent agreed. “You set them up for failure, basically,” he said.
Board Chairman Moses Saldana, who can only vote to break a tie, expressed support from Palchinsky’s position. He said the community is concerned about protecting Pax River from any future rounds of closures and realignments, and that the proliferation of liquor stores may send the wrong message. “There is obviously some concern there,” he said.
Board member Betty Currie moved to approve the new store and Board Vice Chairman William Cullins, III seconded the motion which Palchinsky opposed. The motion was conditional for 180 days to give time for the unit in the sho

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