Al Laudencia, who operates three Big Al’s BBQ restaurants in the Des Moines-area, is mulling opening a fourth location at a shopping center at 1960 Grand Ave. in West Des Moines.

Before he does, however, Laudencia wanted to find out from city officials whether odors from his smoker would generate complaints from nearby residents, and if they did, whether the city would take actions to shut down his business.

“He asked us, ‘If there are complaints of odors, am I going to be shut down,’” Lynn Twedt, the city’s development services director, told two City Council members during a development and planning subcommittee meeting this week. “He doesn’t want to go into the site and then be told he can’t operate.”

Laudencia also has raised questions on where he could place the smoker – in front of the business, which he said would help attract customers, or in the back of the building.

Laudencia pointed to the nearby Hy-Vee, which has a smoker in the front of its business.

Council member Matt McKinney said he didn’t have objections to allowing the smoker to be placed in front of the business, particularly since another business already does it.

Council member Renee Hardman said there was little likelihood the city would shut down the restaurant because of odor complaints. “Call me naïve if you’d like, but I can think of far worse smells than smoked meats,” she said.

Laudencia said he’s considering opening the restaurant in early 2021. Chicken Coop Sports Bar and Grill previously was located in the suite Laudencia is considering leasing.