Liquor Board Approves Beltway Expansion

—the 18,000 square foot liquor store has been approved to expand into an additional 8,000 square feet of space formerly occupied by an Ethan Allen store, according to a decision issued Monday by the Baltimore County Liquor Board.

On Sept. 12, Liquor board chairman Charles E. Klein read a short letter from chief administrator Mike Mohler to Beltway's counsel, Charles Brooks onto record. Brooks was not present for the hearing.

"The Board of Liquor License Commissioners for Baltimore County finds that the increase in premises ... meets the needs requirements," Klein said. "Therefore, the application for increase in premises is approved subject to review and approval of the state comptroller."

The full text of the letter is attached to this article.

Total Wine and More, the company that operates Beltway Fine Wines and Spirits on Loch Raven Boulevard, came before the liquor board nearly a month ago to ask for an increase in premises and was strongly opposed by liquor license holders from around Baltimore County.

The Office of the Comptroller must still approve the expansion. A Circuit Court challenge to the board's decision is also expected.