Smithfield’s Town Council voted unanimously July 5 to approve Danny Hughes’ requested special use permit to open a bagel shop in Suite B of his Hughes Agency insurance office on South Church Street.

According to Hughes’ application, the bagels would arrive daily from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, eliminating the need for a commercial kitchen. The business, which Hughes proposes to name the “Smithfield Bagel Co.,” would also sell coffee, water and soda – all as takeout with no dine-in seating.

The roughly 641-square-foot suite, accessible from Grimes Street, is currently occupied by a tenant – CBX Modular Homes.

“There’s some logistics I have to work out,” Hughes told the council ahead of the vote, stating he wanted to get the special use permit approved ahead of time.

Hughes is proposing no structural changes and only minimal changes to the interior, including the addition of a non-commercial-grade refrigerator, toaster, bagel slicer and coffee maker. He is, however, proposing to add six parking spaces to include the required handicap parking, via a gravel expansion of the existing parking lot.