Gretchen Erdmann & Brad Smith
1026 First Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472
May 28, 2026
To: Sebastopol City Council
Re: In Support of A&M BBQ
We have been residents of Sebastopol for over 30 years and are staunch supporters of locally owned and operated businesses. We value the opportunity to shop and eat at local establishments that offer quality products that cannot be found at large commercial chain businesses and where the money we spend will remain in our community supporting families, schools and organizations that funnel those funds back into our community. It is a symbiotic relationship that is immeasurable and benefits all of us that live in the West County.
A&M BBQ is the epitome of this type of business and one which we have patronized since Kris Austin began in a food truck at local festivals and pop-up events. When he opened the location on So Main St we were thrilled to have more frequent opportunities to enjoy his delicious foods and often queued up before his doors opened to guarantee a selection before it sold out (as it regularly does!) We have known Kris and his family for years and they are deeply engrained in the Sebastopol community and our hearts. Supporting families, children, schools, athletics, non-profits, local businesses, you name it - Kris has been involved physically and financially to keep this community the unique, inclusive, sustainable, thriving place it is.
We urge the Sebastopol City Council to take whatever actions necessary to support A&M BBQ in continuing operations in Sebastopol. Whether that include continuing in their current location or granting the time necessary to relocate within the city or any other measures to prevent the closure of this very valuable local business.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.
Respectfully,
Brad Smith