Addie McCluskey
Elmore Autauga News
The Prattville City Council met on Dec. 16, 2025, for its regular meeting, welcoming the residents to address the council and provide public comments.
Resident Jon Lee Finnegan was the first to step to the podium, sharing concerns that arose from recent city meetings.
Finnegan referenced the Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Dec 11th, where a public hearing on the appropriateness of WBC, Auburn at 124 West Main Street was held. Finnegan said she determined the name to be an abbreviation for Waldo’s Chicken and Beer, a popular restaurant chain known for its Southern fried and rotisserie chicken and sports bar atmosphere.
“They did not say that is what it is going to be because all of them had to sign an NDA, a non-disclosure agreement, but I just wanted to present my feelings on this type of establishment downtown,” said Finnegan.
On July 15, 2025, the council authorized the mayor to enter into lease agreements with various small businesses to operate in the incubator spaces at 124 West Main Street. During the council’s Dec. 2 meeting, members approved a resolution for renovations on the first and third floors of the building, allowing tenants to personalize their spaces.
“We are losing that quaintness of Downtown Prattville,” said Finnegan. “I was hoping we would have a boutique restaurant or maybe a nice, elegant restaurant just to kind of keep the feel of downtown.”
Adding to the feel of downtown is the popular music venue adjacent to 124 West Main Street, which offers live, family-friendly performances for the public to enjoy.
“I’m not against having a good time, but I’m against that being the first thing people see when they come in… and how people would flow out of the restaurant,” said Finnegan. “How would you keep all of those people from drinking and then moving into the music venue?”
For more information about the public’s comments, watch the live recording of the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch.
Editor’s note: Although WBC, Auburn has run legal notice regarding a downtown location, Waldo’s Chicken and Beer has not officially disclosed a location coming to Prattville.
