From: Jennifer Sorensen
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 10:10 AM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Strong Public Support for A&M BBQ at 495 S Main St
Dear Members of the Sebastopol City Council:
We are writing to express our enthusiastic support for A&M BBQ and to urge the town leadership to completely dismiss the recent neighborhood complaints aimed at shutting them down. This restaurant is an incredible asset to Sebastopol. Losing it would be a major detriment to our local economy, our culture, and our vibrant community identity.
We want to directly address and correct several misleading claims being leveled against the business:
• Not a Wholesale Facility: Claims that A&M BBQ operates as a wholesale meat production facility are entirely false. Pitmaster Kris Austin and Marvin McKenzy run a small-scale, traditional neighborhood restaurant. They light their smokers early to prepare fresh meat strictly in quantities needed to serve daily patrons, frequently selling out completely before closing. • Established Commercial Use: The property at 495 S. Main Street has historically housed a busy commercial deli. A bustling food business utilizing this space is not a new development for the neighborhood. The current customer traƯic aligns completely with any successful local eatery. • A Regional Destination: A&M BBQ serves some of the absolute best Texas-style BBQ in the North Bay area, bringing widespread positive attention to Sebastopol (see links below). It acts as a powerful regional draw, bringing in visitors from out of town who then stay to spend money at our other small businesses.
• Community-Minded Ownership: The owners are incredibly welcoming, deeply invested in our town, and represent the exact type of dedicated local entrepreneurs that Sebastopol should actively champion and protect.
Our town leadership and Chamber of Commerce should be finding ways to celebrate small businesses that attract visitors and generate revenue, rather than driving them away. We strongly encourage you to protect A&M BBQ so they can continue to serve our community for years to come.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Sorensen and Gregory Cameron
Sebastopol Residents
https://abc7news.com/post/am-bbq-sebastopol-attracts-long-lines-sells-food-before-closingtime/15249081/
https://www.sonomamag.com/texas-style-bbq-sebastopol/