The Liquor Board members are a dangerous combination of arrogant and stupid. Of course every liquor store owner will show up to their little meeting and oppose this. Actual citizens have jobs and responsibilities and can't make it to these absurd meetings. And who are these people to opine on whether or not there is a public need? This is a disgrace. Terrible decision.

Love the board's rationale. "There's no public need." Well, then they'll go out of business, won't they? "Smith's not ready to be the owner of this business." Since when do we have an approval process based on the risk being taken by the owner?

This whole thing is a joke. If I were Wegmans, I'd pack up and leave the HoCo busybodies (oh, sorry, meant to say "foodies") to shop at Safeways and their pathetic Perfect Pour. Clearly, there's no public need here anyway.

"I will not put the failure of the village centers on my shoulders" said a liquor board member. It's sad that Columbia used to be on the cutting edge, now its 40 year old concepts, like village centers, are holding up progress. Never mind the supreme arrogance and self-grandure of the liquor board member's statement.

Do we get to vote on these board members? I'm bookmarking this page in case I have the chance to vote against them. OUT!

Guys, superficially it is great idea to have liquor store in grocery stores. But in real it's not great idea as it increases crime, public safety issue & most of all this is this chain's r owned by out of state individuals. Which means profits & taxes r going out of state so ur county & state loses all that. Another thing they don't hire as many employees as liquor stores will have per square foot or no. of customer, which ld again lead to higher rate of unemployment in the county. Past experience in similar situation in other states proves that this kind of chains initially talk big, keep their prices low to drive small businesses out of market & they will raise their prices crazy & u as customers r left with no choice. See their profits in grocery business r humongous. If they really want to think for people they can cut their profits in grocery business.
I m small business owner so I m aware of all this details & trying to pass on reality to others. Small businesses have always & everywhere contributed to success. Support ur locals & they 'll support u.
Thanks

Great job Howard county liquor board. Salute.

How does one get on this board? Is it an elected position? Appointed? Volunteer? How long is a "term of office" for these people? Would really appreciate perhaps a story on this group of citizens.

Thanks.

If all businesses had to be approved by a Board before coming into Howard County I wonder what we would not have? Wouldn't all existing businesses like to keep out competitors that give consumers more choices? The overpriced, limited selection liquor merchants in the County is the reason I go out of the County with my business. Corridor in Laurel is much better on price and selection than anyone in Howard County.

Disgusting. This is a clear defeat for the consumer. Most states allow wine, beer, and liquor to be sold on supermarket shelves. California and New York for example. There is no shortage of independent liquor stores there.

Beer is much more expensive in Maryland too. It's so infuriating that the 75 "lobbyists" were able bully the liquor board into an anti-consumer decision.

As someone who has no say in this in that I live in MoCo and only work out here. . . I'm still sad. I like the Perfect Pour, as it's light years above the county run deals we have in terms of finding hard to find stuff. I think Wegmans would cater more to that clientele than it would any of the other DOZENS UPON DOZENS of other liquor stores dotting HoCo. Seriously, I work off 103 and there's at least 5 liquor stores of varying quality (a couple look *really* shady) within 3 miles of my office. Wegmans isn't that market.

I would have been the market for that, since again, I like the Perfect Pour and even Cindy's in Elkridge and a couple of the other nicer places, but appreciate having some competition in price (for the first one) and variety (second and onward) to make everyone better. I'll still hit the Wegman's occasionally, but this would be one more thing I'd have been hitting them for. And yes, I spend a good deal of money on wine, craft beer, and *good* liquor. I am their market.

And for what it's worth, I'll be shopping the Wegmans in Germantown when it gets there for groceries more likely than here, and will do as much alcohol purchasing as I ever did here, but most of it in VA, where the laws aren't as stupid. Hell, I do a TON more in other states I visit where they don't have these Puritan laws all the East Coast states have.

But that's a tangent for another day. At least HoCo doesn't have a bag tax. . .

In reading some these posts, it sounds like a bunch of raving alcoholics are upset because they can't buy their booze at a grocery store. Aw-w-w-w......poor things. But hey folks, a state law forbids it. And, there is obviously no need or reason to further fuel the alcohol cravings of a few complainers who seem too lazy to go to one of the dozens of locally owned liquor stores in Howard Co..

When the Party Politboro has spoken, we the workers should be quiet and accept the higher wisdom. To do otherwise would jeopardize the skillful economic model that is at work. We have prosperity, no debt, jobs for all, and health care from cradle to grave -- surely if something was wrong, someone would point this out.

The Board seems to have followed the laws that exist - until the laws are changed prohibiting grocery store owners from operating liquor stores within their stores, what were they supposed to do? Yes, it's silly that you can't have one stop shopping, but the Board can't change the law. They can only apply it as they see fit. The Wegmans people couldn't even their sh*t together to form a better shell company that made it look like a third party. Disagreeing with the law as it stands is different than being mad at the Board for judging the facts of the case, which was poorly presented.

Well said Kirsty

I would like to see this decision appealed and Wegmans actually make an effort to collect citizen support. Something as simple as putting a book in front of the store where customers can pen their signature in support of the liquor store would speak volumes when thousands of thousands of local and out of town citizen signatures are dropped on the desk of the board.

Real good judgement
Completely agree with what the judges say. First of all there is no need and top of that affecting the local market and all the money is going to move out of state.
Doesn't make much sense to me as a howard county resident and giving money to other states

I thought we were Americans that belieed in the free market? If you want to keep money in our State/Country, then buy everything American (a personal choice). This kind of thinking does work to some degree, but the reality is that we all want the best deal that big retailers provide. Shutdown the pharmacies in Walmart, Target, Giant and Safeway and let Mom and Pop retailers do it. The list is endless of protectionist categories and is far too long to write, but the solution is simple. Compete. Wegmans is bringing taxes and jobs to our area along with their great food selection and prices. I support Wegmans getting a license and suggest the same as mentioned earlier, get a petition going. I will sign it immediately.

By the way, I am curious to know whether all the local stores are providing the same pay and benefits to their employees as Wegmans, because I did not see them on the top 100 list in America.

This descision has nothing to do with keeping competition down and prices up. First liquor stores are owned by a small business owner they are ran by that same person. Who is in there everyday living, breathing, worrying about, and running that store. That business owner is also the same person who will NOT be selling to underage drinkers and the difference between him and Wegmans is that Alchohol is all he has to sell and he will lose his lisence and his store if he sells to a minor. if Wegman's loses its lisence they still have groceries and everything else. Now at a chain store (Wegmans) their wont be an owner at the counter it will be anyone who is 18 or older and has friends that are under age and does not care what happens to Wegman's Liquor lisence. Not to mention think about the 100's or 1000's of the jobs that will be lost that Chain stores wont pick up. Just food for thought.

When I first moved to Columbia, I visited several liquor stores to check out wine selections and prices. I was very disappointed that the majority of my favorite labels were not available; and those that were, were overpriced. Had it been approved, I would probably have purchased at a large store in Columbia. As it has not been, I will continue to shop outside of Columbia.

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Reading all the comments posted above it looks to me it is not public posting this posts. It looks like wegmans affiliates are posting as public view. Otherwise how ld meechum or any information from hearing ld be posted. I was present on all three hearings & only one person was present in support & that too in only one hearing. I am one of the vendor of same industry who travel md,dc & va. Howard county stores have won the most awards in this many years for their wide range & selection of microbrews & wine. So i dont agree to those comments. There are 48954 products available in MD market & there ld be no store carrying all that products, not even Wegmans!! I am pretty sure that local public understands why chain or grocery stores ld not be carrying or selling liquor. Thats why public didn't showup in favour. Otherwise public even they are working have showed up in past if there is need to.
Howard county residents are responsible drinker.

Should be left up to the voters and not a Board. Personally, I'd like to do all my shopping at one place and not have to go to a separate store that the police are monitoring for potential DUI offenders. Probably better prices as well. My only concern is that is is not part of the main store.

Wegmans should appeal and gather community support to attend the meeting. The closest liquor store to my house resembles A third world country most of the time... Empty shelves. They claim "suppliers are slow". For the past 6 months, really? We need a company with adequate resources to stock shelves, provide variety, and competitive prices. I agree it doesnt need to be in the grocery store itself, but it's separate!!!

ugh, how incredibly disappointing. And short-sighted, and idiotic, and very poorly heard, as it appears not a single consumer was there to voice their opinion as to whether there was "a need" for another liquor store. Not every liquor store is created equal, I don't shop at any of the places nearby because they're either gross or inconvenient. It would be amazing to have an upscale store upstairs in Wegmans! Many of the arguments against remind me of the fears voiced during the implementation of nonsmoking in all restaurants, etc. which primarily amount to "the sky is falling!" It's really irritating that the board made no effort to bring public opinion into the mix.

But of course, how could the world still turn if we didnt have committees and groups of anointed elites making decisions for 'free citizens'....

'"Too much is shared, it's under the same building," said Board Chair William Neault. "I'm just not happy with this at all."'

So your happiness Willie is all that matters?

'"Based on that knowledge," said Wise, "this application would not be necessary for public need."' - public need? pardon me sir but we are all individuals who all have different needs and further, wants. For you to sit there and dictate what can be made available to who based on your assessments of a collectivist need is an absolute joke, and it wreaks of arrogance....

""It's a precedent this defeats, it's good for all small retailers," said Vyas."

Does anyone care about the consumer? The individual, the smallest minority on earth?

No we legislate based on collectivism and blend everyone together as cattle and say one size fits all and one ring to rule them all....

Wegmans has too much power. Danny Wegman's sister sneakily bought a liquor license using her married name (Goldberg) in New Jersey and transferred it to a Wegmans in North Jersey grossing almost $2 million a week.

To HELL with them. They cheated me.

This makes me laugh because I count 8 liquor stores within 1/2 mile from my house. MANY more beyond that. These liquor store owners need to be worried about each other more then Wegmans. For instance, I'm only going to get liquor at Wegmans when I shop there, which isnt' all that often. But I have 8 liquor stores to choose from when I need alcohol. Hmm....which one will I go to today? Oh maybe one of the 14 that are just outside of the normal 8! lol

I for one am happy with the boards decision. If Wegmans and other supermarkets are allowed to sell anything and everything than many small business will perish. Super Walmarts sell groceries and dept store items and have hair and nail stores and eyeglass also. It's an entire plaza in one big box store . If this is what we want go ahead and let Wegmans do it too! Unless Wegmans is the only one in town you will never see me there. I shop at Walmart and BJ's for big ticket items but I get my normal groceries at my Giant!