Leonardtown, MD — The St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board (liquor board) has unanimously denied a request for a new liquor store on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. Waqar Qureshi had sought to establish the store to replace his failing Long John Silver/A&W fast food restaurant.
In making the decision board Vice Chair Linda Palchinsky said, “We do not need another liquor store in Lexington Park.” Board Chairman Moses Saldana added, “We would have done an injustice to the county if we would have added another Class A license.”
Two petitions were presented to the board – one with 800 names in support and another with 206 in opposition. Saldana reported that an unspecified county commissioner logged in in opposition to the license. Three persons, two neighbors and a businessman, also spoke against the application.
The applicant’s attorney, Michael Davis argued during the hearing that the location of the proposed liquor store would have been the first on Great Mills Road passed by motorists leaving the base along Great Mills Road. The other, a mile farther down the road, is International Beverage. He said it would be a convenience to the commuters.
Saldana noted that the first name on the petition in support of the application was from a Lusby resident. Qureshi, who lives in Waldorf, said that man traveled Great Mills Road to and from work but Saldana said he doubted that was the case.
The board has a cap of 27 liquor licenses in the 8th Election District. There are currently 20. But it was reported there are nine along Great Mills Road, including one right across the street (County Liquors) in St. Mary’s Square. The county’s Alcohol Enforcement Coordinator Corporal James Stone said he could sprint from the proposed new store to County Liquors in 20 seconds.
“In my opinion from law enforcement it is too much,” Stone said. He reported there had been 113 criminal citations for consumption of alcohol in public in that area from August of 2013 to December of 2014. “It is a big issue,” he said, although he noted that the new COPS unit had made a dent in the problem.
Davis said that the Long John Silver/A&W was doing well until a brand new McDonald’s opened up across the street in St. Mary’s Square. He reported precipitous sales figures since then. When Saldana observed it sounded like the business was failing, Qureshi responded: “very badly.”
Saldana, during the hearing, read from the regulations that “public need and desire for the license” was one of the requirements for approving a new license.
The board seemed sympathetic to Qureshi’s plight but determined that his solution was not right for the community. Saldana told him he hoped he found something else.
Qureshi reported during the hearing that he had made a $1.6 million investment in purchasing the old Pizza Hut, tearing it down and constructing the new building.
Qureshi has 30 days to appeal the board’s decision to the circuit court.
Contact Dick Myers at news@thebaynet.com