Council debates signs for new Cracker Barrel concept restaurant
A new restaurant chain is opening its inaugural location in Homewood this March, but their proposed signs stirred disagreement among council members and local residents.
Holler & Dash, a new restaurant concept from Cracker Barrel, is opening at 2801 18th St. S. in mid-March, according to the representative who attended the Jan. 25 city council meeting. The restaurant is requesting sign variances to allow a sign to hang over the sidewalk and a mural on the building's side wall.
The mural originally depicted a large rooster, ridden by a cowboy swinging a lasso, next to a wall of diagonal stripes and the phrase "It's all good in Homewood." In a special issues committee meeting, council members expressed strong dislike of this design and the Holler & Dash representative agreed to work with them on the matter. The council members' concerns included overall aesthetics and the appearance to drivers heading into downtown Homewood.
After discussion, the stripes and slogan were removed from the mural and the rooster was made significantly smaller.
When brought before the full council, other 18th Street businesses had mixed feelings. A representative of Watts Realty and Steve Thomas of Soho Retro both said they supported the new business and its mural, which Thomas said had a "whimsical aspect" that could draw in more shoppers.
Dee Tipps, the owner of a.k.a. Girl Stuff, said she felt the mural was "tacky" and would upset residents, shoppers and other business owners because it does not match the area. A fellow Homewood resident agreed and added that she felt a big company occupying the space would take away from the appeal of downtown Homewood.
The council voted to approve the hanging sign and mural on condition that new mural designs, reflecting the revisions made during the meeting, are approved by all council members. If any council members do not approve the drawings, the issue will be brought up again at the Feb. 8 meeting. Ward 1 Representative Michael Hallman voted against the measure.
During the meeting, the council also:
- Approved a fence variance at 1527 Roseland Drive for the owner to construct a wrought-iron fence to prevent children from getting injured on a steep drop on his property.
- Approved payment of up to $6,500 to install a speed monitoring sign at the West Oxmoor Road/Huntington Glen intersection to resolve speeding issues.
- Approved the transfer of up to $500,000 from the 2014-2015 budget surplus for additional capital project funding.
- Approved funding of a decorative street sign at the East Hawthorne Road/Oxmoor Road intersection.
- Approved funding to lease mailing equipment.
- Approved up to $2,000 to place an ad in the 2016 Homewood magazine.
- Authorized the mayor to enter a new contract with Freedom Probation Services. The company increased its liability insurance, including its coverage of Homewood, at no cost to the city.
- Authorized the mayor to sign a contract for quarterly payments to the county transit authority (BJCTA), despite concerns over the authority's failure to provide requested ridership data.
- Set a Feb. 8 public hearing for a sign ordinance variance for Real & Rosemary, opening at 1922 29th Ave. S.
- Carried over discussion of a sign variance to allow a monument sign for the businesses at 800, 804 and 808 Green Springs Highway.
- Rejected all bids for landfill services, so the city can negotiate with another provider.