Smackdab Brewing, a brewery taproom planned for 225 N. Front St. in downtown Murfreesboro, and PennePazze, an Italian restaurant coming to 1430 Medical Center Pkwy., were among four new-location beer permit applications on the Murfreesboro City Council's Oct. 15, 2026, agenda. Smackdab applied for a manufacturer permit for its taproom. PennePazze, Chinwag and Big Bad Breakfast applied for on-premises permits for their restaurants. City staff recommended approval of all four.
As of Oct. 21, the city had not posted minutes from the Oct. 15 meeting, so the council's vote on the permits is not yet in the public record.
Which beer permits were on the Oct. 15 council agenda?
The City Council acts as Murfreesboro's Beer Board. The beer permit item, presented by City Recorder Erin Tucker, listed four regular beer permits, and all four were for new locations:
- Smackdab Brewing (Smackdab Brewing LLC), 225 N. Front St.: manufacturer permit for a taproom
- PennePazze (S. Stark LLC), 1430 Medical Center Pkwy., Ste. C: on-premises permit for a restaurant
- Chinwag (Chinwag Social LLC), 1440 Medical Center Pkwy., Ste. 1C: on-premises permit for a restaurant
- Big Bad Breakfast (BBB Murfreesboro LLC), 113 E. Main St.: on-premises permit for a restaurant
Smackdab's was the only manufacturer permit on the list.
What does council approval of a beer permit mean?
The council memo cites Tennessee Code 57-5-103, which gives cities the authority to regulate the sale, distribution, manufacture and storage of beer. Staff wrote that all four applications meet the requirements of Chapter 4 of the City Code, except for building and codes inspections that were still pending.
Approval by the council does not put a permit in hand right away. The memo says permits are issued only after the council approves them and the business passes its final building and codes inspections. The application summaries show each application was completed properly, and that none of the four had an approved occupancy application yet.
What is Smackdab Brewing?
Smackdab Brewing's website says it is "coming soon to historic downtown Murfreesboro" at 225 North Front Street. Its About Us page says the team has been serving Murfreesboro as homebrewers for nearly a decade and now wants to give downtown a new place to socialize over a cold drink.
The brewery says it plans to stay close to traditional German and English beer styles and methods, with an extensive lagering program that it says will set it apart from many breweries. It also plans to use unique flavors and ingredients with some subtlety, so the base beer still comes through.
The beer application lists Nowell Robbins, James Fagan and Jeffrey Bellamy, all of Murfreesboro, as owners. Smackdab has not posted an opening date, hours or a beer list. Its website lists smackdabbrewing@gmail.com and 615-714-3154 for contact.
What is PennePazze?
PennePazze is an Italian restaurant with an open kitchen and a farm-to-table approach, according to its website. Its About page says founder Rony grew up cooking with his Italian mother, that pasta and pinsa are made in-house daily and that the kitchen avoids artificial ingredients, preservatives and seed oils. The beer application lists Rony Stark of Murfreesboro as the owner of S. Stark LLC.
PennePazze already operates at 3826 Charlotte Ave. in Nashville. Its contact page lists the Murfreesboro restaurant at 1430 Medical Center Pkwy., and its homepage shares a "sneak peek" of the Murfreesboro location. The restaurant has not announced an opening date.
Its online menu includes:
- Pasta such as Amatriciana, Carbonara Pazza, Gnocchi Crema di Gorgonzola and lasagna
- Pinsa such as Pinsa Funghi and Pinsa Maiala
- Panini, salads and desserts such as cannoli cones
- Drinks including beer, Italian beer, wine by the glass or bottle and espresso drinks
PennePazze's contact page lists one phone number for both restaurants, 615-285-3357.
When do Chinwag and Big Bad Breakfast open?
The other two applicants are close to opening:
- Chinwag at 1440 Medical Center Pkwy., Ste. 1C, says on its website that dinner service starts Oct. 22, 2026, and lunch starts Nov. 3. OnlyInMurfreesboro covered the restaurant in Chinwag's Murfreesboro opening story.
- Big Bad Breakfast at 113 E. Main St. says on its Murfreesboro page that it opens Oct. 27. The restaurant describes itself as a Southern scratch diner serving breakfast, brunch and lunch seven days a week, with a menu created by Chef John Currence. It was first listed in OnlyInMurfreesboro's September 2026 openings and closings roundup.
For places to drink now, see OnlyInMurfreesboro's bars and breweries guide and craft beer guide. The downtown Murfreesboro restaurants guide covers dining around the Public Square, the Italian restaurants guide lists pasta and pizza spots, and the new restaurants guide tracks recent and upcoming openings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smackdab Brewing open in Murfreesboro?
Not yet. Smackdab Brewing's website says it is coming soon to 225 N. Front St. in downtown Murfreesboro and does not list an opening date.
What kind of beer will Smackdab Brewing make?
Smackdab says it will focus on traditional German and English styles and methods, with an extensive lagering program.
When does PennePazze open in Murfreesboro?
PennePazze has not announced an opening date. Its website lists the Murfreesboro restaurant at 1430 Medical Center Pkwy. and shares a sneak peek of the space.
Did the City Council approve the Smackdab and PennePazze beer permits?
City staff recommended approval of all four permits on the Oct. 15, 2026, agenda. As of Oct. 21, the city had not posted minutes from that meeting. Even after approval, permits are issued only once a business passes its final building and codes inspections.
When does Big Bad Breakfast open in Murfreesboro?
Big Bad Breakfast's Murfreesboro page says the restaurant at 113 E. Main St. opens Oct. 27.
Sources: Murfreesboro City Council Oct. 15, 2026, agenda packet (Beer Permits council communication and application summaries), City of Murfreesboro Agenda Center, Smackdab Brewing, Smackdab Brewing: About Us, PennePazze, PennePazze: About, PennePazze: Menu, PennePazze: Contact, Chinwag, Big Bad Breakfast Murfreesboro.
*Illustration: AI-generated image; not an actual Murfreesboro location.*