Hendersonville said "not in my back yard". At least for the coffee shop that wanted to move into Hendersonville at the front of the Bluegrass Landing subdivision. The city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen denied the "Bad Ass Coffee" franchise a permit to open up on East Main.
Cody Rothwell, president of Rothwell Development Company, LLC, a resident of Hendersonville formed an agreement with the "Bad Ass Coffee" franchise to open 12 locations in middle Tennessee. Even more are planned elsewhere in the state.
What is the name? The planning commission said it was more about a drive-thru coffee place causing traffic problems for the people in the subdivision.
One man (who has a nearby business) spoke at the meeting, saying “I’m afraid Hawaiian music at 6:00 in the morning will not be a joy for us to hear every day.” He also said he didn't appreciate the name "Bad Ass Coffee".
The name of the coffee comes from the history of donkeys hauling coffee beans. According to Hendersonvillestandard.com, Ward 6 Alderman Jim Waters is against the name, “We’re a better community than that… than to have a coffee sign with the words – and I’m not going to repeat them but it’s on the marquee and it’s on a traveled, busy road. I think we’re better than that.”
The request for the permit was denied by a vote of 9-3.