One of Mt. Juliet’s longtime mom and pop businesses had its rezoning request unanimously approved by Mt. Juliet commissioners to expand its footprint on N. Mt. Juliet Road.

With the rezoning, Houston’s Meat and Produce owner Chris Houston can proceed with plans to add on to the current building at 3910 N. Mt. Juliet Rd. and also construct space for potential leasing to other businesses on property adjacent to the current business near Charlie Daniels Park.

Representatives from Civil Site Design spoke for Houston at the Sept. 25 meeting to get the property rezoned from residential to commercial town center. The rezone request got a unanimous positive recommendation from the Mt. Juliet Planning Commission in August.

“Well, my dream was to open a steakhouse here on the property,” Houston told Main Street Media. “And, through the years the idea was so supported by the community. I floated it around. But now I don’t know if I’m up to a venture like that and hope to actually cut back in five years.”

So, instead, he said he would like to add on to his store that offers meals for sale, a small sit-in eating area, fresh cut meats, homemade desserts and produce.

“I’d like to build 6,000 square feet onto this building and expand retail and dining space,” he said. “Then I’d like to have some of that space formatted to three or four spaces I could lease or rent out for other businesses.”

Houston owns the house currently on the adjacent property. He said it’s in great shape and his mom, Sharon, lived there her last few years.

“Maybe we can move it somewhere and one of my family members can live in it,” Houston said.

He hopes his build-out will extend his current building to the south and back side in an L-shape and plans to start the process next year.

“I’d like to have a bigger showroom-type for Houston’s,” he said.

Houston’s was founded by Houston’s parents in 1991. Houston began to manage it around 2008 and his dad passed in 2013.

“I love this community,” said Houston. “We have been supported for years and years.”