Denham Springs council approves alcohol permit for Mustard Seed Creamery after public comment

Denham Springs — The Denham Springs City Council voted to approve a retail class A‑R (restaurant) alcohol permit at its Sept. 22 meeting for the business identified in the agenda as Mustard Seed Creamery, located at 111 North Range Avenue. The council approved the permit on a motion by Councilmember Poole, seconded by Councilmember Gilbert; the final voice vote recorded Gilbert, Poole and Wesley as yes and Dugas and Liam Williams as no.

The permit applicant, Tim Louverde, told the council the business “has reapplied for [the] alcohol permit. We're in compliance with local and state ordinances. We've done everything the council has asked and everything we understood was expected, including no longer allowing a church community to assemble in the restaurant while closed.” He asked the council to conclude the application so the business could continue serving customers.

During public comment, several residents spoke in support and some asked questions about record requests and social media posts surrounding the application. AJ Holland, who identified his address in Walker, said he was “neither for nor against” but asked a series of questions that he said were public record. Another resident who gave a Walker area address said, “I support these people. I support the yes vote to keep this business open and to keep it flourishing.”

Council discussion touched on compliance history. A city official explained that when the business initially applied it met the criteria, but “at the end of the year” it did not meet all criteria and the license was not renewed — the city’s stated reason. The same official later told the applicant, “You meet the criteria today, so we've approved your license for you again.”

The council did not record any amendments to the permit or additional conditions during the vote. The agenda lists the applicants as Timothy and Natasha Lavera and the business name as Mustard Seed Creamery.

The permit approval concludes the application on the council’s agenda; no subsequent conditions or follow‑up dates were recorded in the meeting minutes.