LA PLATA, Md. — Charles County officials have provided an update on the liquor license status for three restaurants: Milk & Honey, First Watch, and Fiesta Tex Mex in Waldorf. The update comes in response to ongoing social media discussions suggesting that the county’s liquor board has delayed or withheld approvals for these establishments.
According to county staff, Milk & Honey submitted a liquor license application on March 23. During the required 15-day review period, the application was returned to the restaurant’s attorney because it was incomplete. The delay appeared to stem from internal decisions regarding who would be listed on the license.
Officials explained that once an application is complete, it must be posted on the property for 20 consecutive days and published in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks before it can be scheduled for a hearing before the liquor board.
Meanwhile, First Watch and Fiesta Tex Mex have not submitted liquor license applications to the county as of this publication. Both businesses provided updates to The BayNet.
First Watch confirmed it has not yet filed a liquor license application but said preparations are underway. “We are in the process of preparing our application, but have not officially applied for a liquor license yet,” the company shared.
Fiesta Tex Mex stated that the delay is attributed to complications with First National Realty Partners, the property management, not the county’s process. The restaurant explained that it has been in prolonged lease negotiations and was informed that they would need to provide a letter of credit for $250,000 to move forward with a liquor license.
“We can’t accommodate your request for a liquor license unless we get a letter of credit for $250,000,” management was told. “Please understand that we have restrictions in other leases that, if violated, could have significant financial consequences, hence the need for such a large letter of credit.”
Fiesta Tex Mex stated that efforts to resolve the situation are ongoing.
County officials confirmed that no license applications are currently being held up by the Board of License Commissioners.
The Board of License Commissioners meets in person on the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Charles County Government Building. For meeting agendas and upcoming hearing information, visit the official meeting page.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
So you can’t just get your way by fabricating injustice on social media to incite outrage? You actually have to go through the correct legal process?