A representative for Applebee’s in Stonecrest told city staff on Dec. 16, 2025, that the restaurant seeks to operate until 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and until midnight on Sunday. City revenue staff said the business must have a special administrative permit to operate beyond midnight and asked the owner to provide written consent and documentation before staff can render a decision.

"We're a neighborhood bar and grill," said Rashid Gaines, the assistant manager representing the location. "Our current hours of operation are from 11AM until 1AM, Monday through Saturday. Sunday night we close at midnight. We're just a neighborhood restaurant seeking to operate as a late night business." Gaines said he was sent by his area director to represent the business.

Eric Hawkins, Stonecrest revenue manager, told Gaines he did not see an existing permit allowing operation past midnight and said, "I don't think you guys should be open till 1AM because you don't have an existing permit to operate as a late night establishment at this time. You should be closing at 12:00, midnight every night for operations." Hawkins asked Gaines to provide a letter of consent from the owner, identified in the petition as Vicky Thomas, and other documentation by email so staff can complete its administrative review.

Hawkins raised a separate administrative question about occupational tax liability for the period Jan. 2024 through Oct. 2025, the month in which city records indicate a sale occurred. Gaines acknowledged the city may be owed taxes, saying, "So we owe that. We have not paid that." Hawkins also confirmed that servers and bartenders at the location hold DeKalb County pouring permits, and he said the city will render a decision within 24 to 48 hours after receipt of the requested documents; he noted the office will be closed Dec. 24–26, which could delay final action.

Staff asked that the owner submit a letter of consent and any financial or tax documentation to ehawkins@stonecrestga.gov; Hawkins provided a contact phone number on the record. The city took no formal vote at the hearing; the permit result is pending staff review.