The fifth time was the charm for Tim and Natasha Levert and the Mustard Seed Creamery.
The Denham Springs City Council, in a 3-2 vote, approved the Creamery’s alcohol permit request after multiple failed attempts and months of debate over whether religious services could be held at the restaurant during non-business hours.
The Creamery was denied a renewal of its alcohol permit at the end of 2024 after city officials said church services were being held in the building on Sundays. Reapplications in July and August of 2025 were also rejected by 3-2 votes.
At the heart of the controversy was the city ordinance prohibiting liquor licenses within 300 feet of a church, synagogue, library, playground, or school. Council members differed on whether the Creamery’s off-hours worship gatherings qualified the restaurant as a church.
In August, Levert told the council, “We are unapologetically a church by a biblical definition of a group of people, a gathering of people. Sometimes we meet at homes, sometimes we meet at a brewery. Sometimes we meet at a restaurant. That doesn't change the fact that the restaurant is still a restaurant.”
He also argued that the ordinance requires measuring distance from the “property line of the church,” which he said did not exist since the property was a restaurant. “There is no property line of any church,” Levert said. “That building is owned by a restaurant. It's occupied by a restaurant.”
The turning point came Sept. 22, when Councilman Jeff Wesley switched his vote to “yes.”
“(Mustard Seed Creamery is) in compliance with local and state ordinances,” Levert said that night. “We've done everything the council has asked and everything we understood was expected, including no longer allowing the church community to assemble in the restaurant while closed. Mustard Seed Church has not gathered in the restaurant for weekly worship since Sunday, August 10.”
The permit was approved with votes from Poole, Gilbert, and Wesley. Council members Lori Lamm-Williams and Amber Dugas opposed the request. Dugas hesitated several seconds before finally voting “no.”
After the meeting, Levert said he did not know why two council members still voted no. “I have no idea. We’re just happy that this is finally over,” he said, noting that the permit is valid through the end of the year, when it must be renewed.
The following day, Lamm-Williams explained her opposition in a statement to The News.
“(Monday) afternoon, I received a letter from an attorney providing legal notice that the City would be sued on behalf of Mr. Levert, Mustard Seed Church, and Mustard Seed Creamery unless the alcohol license was granted with the stipulation that the church could move back into the building,” she said.
“Under the clear language of the ordinance, the Council cannot issue an alcohol license to a location within 300 feet of a church. I didn’t see how I could change my vote when the fact pattern is the same,” she continued. “In addition to my personal dedication to follow the law as written, I voted to support the numerous churches who have asked the Council to maintain the current law, continuing to afford them the protections they have enjoyed for decades they have served this city.”
Lamm-Williams added she was surprised Levert did not mention the threatened litigation during the meeting. “However, this is not his first threat of litigation,” she said. “My sincere hope is that he has decided to follow the ordinance and that we can move forward with the current resolution.”
During public comment, Walker teacher A.J. Holland opposed the permit, criticizing negative social media commentary and distributing a list of 15 questions he said had not been addressed through public records requests.
“Politicians are not able to speak the truth,” Holland said. “The council is not going about this the right way.”
His comments led to a Scripture-for-Scripture exchange with Poole, who countered: “The word ‘church’ derived from the Greek language and had nothing to do with a brick and mortar building with a steeple. The church is the people, not a physical building, a restaurant, or a bar. It’s easy for me to support this request, and I’ll probably be the one to make the motion to grant it.”
Local radio personality and event organizer Scott Innes spoke in favor of the Creamery. “The fact we are even debating this thing when you look at the whole picture of what is going on in the world right now, it's kind of embarrassing,” he said. “We are nickel-and-diming a business that is striving to do great, wonderful things in this Parish.”
The council also scheduled three public hearings. A zoning change hearing passed 4-0, with Poole abstaining because he will not be able to attend the Oct. 14 meeting. Two additional hearings on gas tap fees, which Poole said involve separate ordinances giving the city “options,” were set for Oct. 27.
In other business, the council approved donating surplus electronic equipment from two patrol vehicles to the Greensburg Police Department.
The Livingston Parish News also reached out to Councilwoman Amber Dugas for comment. No response was received as of publication.
