Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q is moving toward opening in Mt. Juliet after applying for an on-premise beer permit at 1209 Rutland Drive.
The Mt. Juliet Alcoholic Beverage Board will consider the application from Jim 'N Nick's Management LLC at its Tuesday, Nov. 10 meeting, according to a public notice posted by the city. The meeting begins at 4:45 p.m.
The same agenda lists a violation case against Southern Marinas LLC, which operates Cedar Creek Marina at 9120 Saundersville Road. The public notice does not describe the nature of the alleged violation.
Both items are open for public comment.
What the permit signals
A beer permit application is one of the final regulatory steps before a restaurant can open. The filing confirms Jim 'N Nick's is preparing to serve customers at the Rutland Drive location.
Jim 'N Nick's is a full-service barbecue chain founded in 1985 in Birmingham, Alabama, by the father-son team of Jim and Nick Pihakis, according to a 2017 Nation's Restaurant News report. The chain has locations in multiple states, including Tennessee. The Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce welcomed Jim 'N Nick's as a new member in a Facebook post, though no opening date has been announced.
How the board handles permits
The board's Sept. 8 meeting offers a window into what Jim 'N Nick's can expect. Vice Chairperson Usry led that session, where the board approved on-premise beer permits for two other new Mt. Juliet restaurants: Rock 'N Roll Sushi and Nicoletto's Pasta Co., according to meeting minutes posted on the city's Legistar page.
Board members Patrick Scales and Carolyn Christoffersen voted to approve both permits. Before each vote, the board questioned applicants about staff training, ID-checking procedures and how beer would be sold.
The board also reminded applicants about rules for checking IDs of customers under 21 and warned of random compliance testing.
What's next
The Nov. 10 meeting is open to the public at Mt. Juliet City Hall. Residents can attend and comment on the Jim 'N Nick's permit application and the Cedar Creek Marina violation case. No opening date for the Rutland Drive restaurant has been set.
