Franklin beer board approves alcohol permits for downtown events and new businesses

The City of Franklin Beer Board on April 8 approved beer permits for multiple annual events and for several new or changing downtown businesses, including contingent approvals for three venues waiting on certificates of occupancy.

Board members voted unanimously to approve special-event alcohol permits for Visit Franklin’s National Travel and Tourism Week community block party (May 8), the Franklin Rodeo (May 17), the Music City Grand Prix benefit for Saddle Up (May 31), Franklin Pride Festival (June 7), the Boys & Girls Club Wind Down Main Street (Nov. 1) and the Boys & Girls Club VIP/Main Square components. They also approved on-premises consumption permits for Kokomo Trading Company (ownership change at 158 Front Street), Hogwood Barbecue (600A Frasier Drive), Franklin Social (231 Public Square), Mission Cigar and Social (121 Third Avenue North) and Perrin 9 (94 East Main Street), with Franklin Social, Mission Cigar and Perrin 9 receiving contingent approvals pending certificates of occupancy.

The approvals affect downtown blocks and several regional venues where beer will be sold or distributed from temporary tents or established on-premises locations. Board members repeatedly emphasized that alcohol must remain inside defined permit areas. "We don't want to see it leaving the premise," Alderman Barnhill said during the Visit Franklin item, and applicants described perimeter staffing and permit-limited footprints to prevent off-site consumption.

Why it matters: Franklin’s approvals enable beverage sales at long-running community events that draw hundreds to thousands of visitors, and they clear the way for new food-and-drink businesses downtown. The board’s actions set operational conditions—time windows, tent locations and perimeter monitoring—that affect public safety, downtown pedestrian flow and vendor responsibilities.

Key event and business details

- Visit Franklin — National Travel and Tourism Week community block party (400 Main St./Fourth Ave. footprint), May 8, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.; Visit Franklin executive director Maureen Thornton said the event will extend the visitor center footprint and that the organizers will work with special events staff on street closure and perimeter monitoring. The board approved the permit and discussed ensuring consumption stays within the closed portion of Fourth Avenue.

- Franklin Rodeo — Franklin Noon Rotary, Williamson County Ag Expo Center, May 17, 5 p.m.–11 p.m.; long-standing annual event; board approved.

- Music Country Grand Prix benefit for Saddle Up — Brownland Farm, May 31 (guest arrival ~2:30 p.m., events end ~7 p.m.); Christy Williams said organizers expect about 500 guests and around 100 volunteers; board approved.

- Franklin Pride Festival — The Park at Harlinsdale Farm, June 7, planned beer sales 12 p.m.–6 p.m.; festival representative Jenny Bailey said organizers expect "7 to 8,000 people" and will stop alcohol sales an hour early to encourage on-site consumption; board approved.

- Boys & Girls Club — Wind Down Main Street (Franklin Theater and Public Square), Nov. 1, VIP and square areas; Denise Carruthers described two distinct, permit-limited beer locations (VIP inside the theater and a beer tent on the square); board approved and reiterated that beer will be restricted to the two approved areas.

- Kokomo Trading Company (d/b/a Kokomo Westhaven) — 158 Front Street, ownership change triggered a new permit application; attorney Rob Pinson described minor ownership shifts and said it's "same business as usual." Staff recommended approval; board approved.

- Hogwood Barbecue (Weber Brothers Barbecue LLC) — 600A Frasier Drive; new on-premises permit for an established restaurant; board approved.

- Franklin Social — 231 Public Square; new rooftop venue with indoor/outdoor seating. Managing agent Daniel Magni said the business aims to create "a comfortable place for people to come and relax." Board approved contingent on receipt of the certificate of occupancy; staff noted all inspections are complete.

- Mission Cigar and Social (Mission Enterprises Franklin LLC) — 121 Third Avenue North; cigar lounge and beverage service, with specialized ventilation. Owner Monty Collins told the board the venue installed a DOAS unit costing about $75,000 to meet Franklin City code requirements for recirculated air. Board approved contingent on certificate of occupancy.

- Perrin 9 (Transparent Hospitality Inc.) — 94 East Main Street; chef-owner Aubrey Olaski said the restaurant/bakery will offer laminated pastry and brunch/dinner service; board approved contingent on certificate of occupancy.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (03/11/2025 Beer Board): Approved (Alderman Barnhill: yes; Alderman Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Kokomo Westhaven LLC (Kokomo Trading Company): Approved (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Visit Franklin — National Travel and Tourism Week block party (5/8/2025): Approved (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Franklin Rodeo (Franklin Noon Rotary, 5/17/2025): Approved (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Music Country Grand Prix (Saddle Up benefit, 5/31/2025): Approved (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Franklin Pride Festival (6/7/2025): Approved (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Boys & Girls Club Wind Down/Main Street (11/01/2025): Approved (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Weber Brothers Barbecue (Hogwood Barbecue): Approved (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Franklin Social (231 Public Square): Approved, contingent on certificate of occupancy (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Mission Cigar and Social: Approved, contingent on certificate of occupancy (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes). - Perrin 9 (94 East Main Street): Approved, contingent on certificate of occupancy (Barnhill: yes; Caesar: yes; Chair: yes).

What the board emphasized

Board members repeatedly stressed that events must confine alcohol to the permit area and staff should monitor perimeters. Alderman Barnhill cautioned organizers to prevent consumption from leaving closed blocks; Visit Franklin and other applicants said they will station staff around perimeters and follow special-events advisory-team guidance.

Where to watch next

Several approvals were contingent on certificates of occupancy; those three venues will return to staff lists once occupancy is issued. Event organizers confirmed dates and times and said they will follow standard special-events procedures and alcohol-control practices.

(Reporting from the City of Franklin Beer Board meeting, April 8, 2025.)