Howard County liquor board approves five license matters, including Pupatella Pizza

The Howard County Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board voted unanimously May 28 to approve five license matters, granting new and transferred on‑premises beer, wine and liquor licenses and approving a change of resident agent for a golf club, with one approval contingent on documentation of alcohol‑awareness training.

The board approved a new Class B, seven‑day on‑premise license for RD2 Columbia LLC, which will operate as Pupatella Pizza at the former Pizza Hut on Bendix Road. Cord Thomas, CEO of Papatello Management, told the board the concept is a family‑friendly Neapolitan pizzeria with “about 90% of our sales in food and 10% in beverages,” and said the firm plans to fence and staff the outdoor patio to limit access and card patrons. Philippe Savage, the proposed Maryland resident agent, said he lives about 2½ miles from the site and will be on‑site frequently during opening.

The board next approved a transfer of a Class D, seven‑day license for The Hideout to Knott Sisters Inc. Applicant Sharina Blunt, who said she has worked in alcohol retail and management since age 16 and has been alcohol‑certified, told the board she will continue the business’s current operations and security practices. Board members said the establishment has been a “good neighbor” and supported the transfer.

A new Class D license for Sangam Indian Cuisine also won approval. Applicant Zeeshan Chaudhry said the restaurant will focus on South Indian cuisine in a roughly 3,000‑square‑foot space with an elevated outdoor seating area and that alcohol will make up about 10–15% of sales; he said staff who handle alcohol will be certified and the business plans to source some local wines and beers.

For Columbia Association Inc., the board approved a change of resident agent for Fairway Hills Golf Club contingent on the submission of an alcohol‑awareness certificate for the new resident agent, Steven Reeves. Reeves described pro‑shop and beverage‑cart operations and said alcohol service on the course consists of beer and low‑alcohol seltzers; board members urged that beverage‑cart attendants be certified as well, and the board made the approval conditional on providing certification documentation.

Finally, the board reissued a Class B license to Chicken & Whiskey Columbia LLC after the applicant said payroll‑processing failures at a third‑party provider led to a lapse in required tax filings and the suspension of alcohol sales. Desmond Riley, a licensee and operator, described community outreach the restaurants have done and said the company replaced the payroll vendor and expects to restore alcohol service soon. Counsel Linda Carter stated the payroll provider was changed; the board approved the license reissuance.

Each action was taken by roll call and the board recorded affirmative votes from the members present. Applicants waived the right to appeal in the hearing for items where waivers were recorded. The board adjourned and announced its next meeting for June 11.