Smyrna Beer Board grants on-premise beer permit to Ranchito Cafe

The Town of Smyrna Beer Board on Jan. 6 approved an on-premise beer permit for Ranchito Cafe after a public hearing and a voice vote.

The permit matters because Ranchito Cafe plans to serve beer during breakfast and brunch hours at a new Smyrna location; owners told the board they will require staff to hold state ABC server permits and will use standard ID checks.

At the hearing, Juan (last name not provided) and his mother, Purificacion Lopez, identified Lopez as the owner and said she also operates another Smyrna restaurant. "This is gonna be a, breakfast brunch, place here in Smyrna," Juan said. The applicants told the board the cafe will operate from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and that they expect to employ about seven people at the new location. They said staff will complete online ABC training and obtain server permits before serving alcohol.

Board members asked about management and training. The applicants said Juan and the owner's sister will manage operations; the applicants said they will require staff to obtain ABC server permits. "Normally, what we do is with the ABC board, they have, programs that they go through online training to get obtained a server permit," Juan said.

A board member moved to approve the on-premise permit and a second was made; the board approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Town staff said the approved permit would be available for pickup at the town office the next morning after 10 a.m. Town staff also told the applicants there is a $100 privilege tax due for 2025 and a $100 annual privilege tax thereafter, with the next payment due in 2026.

The approval was taken by voice; the board did not record a roll-call tally.