The Thomas Smyrna Beer Board on July 7 approved an on‑premise beer permit for Bean Brothers Texas‑style Barbecue and Catering following a public hearing, the board’s presiding officer said.

The permit clears the way for the new sit‑down restaurant and catering business to sell beer on site; the applicants told the board they will serve only beer, require ID checks for all customers and are targeting an opening in August. Town counsel said off‑site catering may require separate review.

Donald “Rooster” Being, who applied for the permit and said he will run the business with his wife, Lori Being, told the board, “It’s a Texas style barbecue restaurant, beer only. No wine or no whiskey or nothing like that anymore.” He said Bean Brothers will be a sit‑down restaurant that will also provide catering services.

On age verification, Rooster Being said, “Everybody that comes through the door ... you better have an ID or you don’t get a beer. So everybody gets carded.” He described a workplace policy for carding that includes progressive discipline: “If, you know, somebody does come in and, you know, they they don’t card them, you get two strikes and then the third, you’re out.”

Regarding staffing, Being said he and his wife are the current managers and that a prospective manager, Michael Jordan, may join the business; the board advised that any manager who will serve in that capacity must complete the town’s manager application.

Being described the business hours as roughly 10:30 or 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the kitchen closing earlier some nights and occasional later hours for bands: “I’m gonna say 10 at night right now … and if we were to stay open maybe till 11 on if we’ve got bands … right now, I wanna get out of there as early as I can.”

Town attorney Jeff Peach told the board that off‑site catering is “a whole different animal” and “not necessarily covered under our ordinance,” and said he would follow up with the applicants to clarify whether a separate permit or approvals are needed.

The applicant also told the board the business holds commercial insurance through International Insurance Brokerages and said the agent provided umbrella coverage; he referenced prior catering work, including events outside the area.

After closing the public hearing, a board member moved to approve the on‑premise beer permit; another member seconded. The presiding officer called for the vote and recorded “all in favor, say aye.” The board approved the permit with no opposition recorded. The presiding officer told the applicants they could pick up the approved permit the next day after 10 a.m.

Board members and staff asked administrative follow‑ups: one staff member noted the applicants may need to return to the historical commission for approval of exterior work before opening if that work affects a historic façade. The board also set its August meeting date tentatively for Aug. 11 and instructed staff to notify the board if no meeting was needed.

The applicants said they hope to be open by the town’s beer and barbecue festival in August but did not provide a specific opening date. The town attorney and staff will follow up with the applicants about whether off‑site catering requires separate permitting and whether any exterior work requires historical commission approval.