Chattanooga Beer Board Meeting - November 6, 2025
Chattanooga Beer Board Meeting - November 6, 2025
The Chattanooga Beer Board met on November 6, 2025, at 13:54 UTC to consider beer permit applications, discuss violations, and hear extensive public testimony regarding nuisance and safety concerns at several establishments, particularly Shady's Corner. The board took several actions including sustaining suspensions, setting suspension dates, and directing regulatory visits.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the October 16, 2025 meeting.
- Approved the following beer permits recommended by regulatory staff:
- Sculpture Fields at Montague Park (TE 103) – special event permit approved following city attorney guidance.
- Vision Hospitality Management LLC (Beer 1367).
- Tennessee River Gorge Trust (TE 104) – approved.
- 5902 Inc. doing business as Eagles Food and Fuel (Beer 1368) – change of ownership approved.
- Reflection Riding: World Heavyweight Chili Championship at Main 24 Festival (TE 105) – temporary permit approved.
- Planet Power Cafe and Juice Bar (Beer 1370) – approved.
- GKC Inc. (Beer 1372) – approved.
- Note: Chatterjack (TE 104) was withdrawn because zoning approval was not obtained; the event had already occurred without alcohol sales.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Shady's Corner (1410 Cemetery Ave): Multiple speakers from the Islamic Center of Chattanooga and nearby residents testified for permanent suspension of the beer license. Hamid Elamin stated that since September 2023 there have been 511 police responses, including 206 in 2025 up to October, with 89 noise complaints. Incidents listed included fights, drug overdoses, drink spiking, sexual assault, vandalism, and a drive-by shooting on October 26, 2025 (14 shell casings found). Residents described terror, noise, public urination, blocked emergency access, and fear of an imminent homicide. The Islamic Center has been in the area 43 years. Gary Rudolph, Gloria Rudolph, and others detailed personal experiences of damaged property, inability to sleep, and safety threats. Several speakers urged revocation of the license.
- Let's Paint by Zilliarts (Main Street): Owner Nicole Davis stated she is operating within the law, serving food after 2:30 a.m., and has hired security. She expressed willingness to work with neighbors. Resident Sandra Marshall reported a gunshot from the parking lot and late-night noise until 5 a.m. Board member Betsy Hartman (who lives nearby) described a specific incident on October 11, 2025, with music shaking walls at 3:23 a.m. and people lingering until after 5 a.m. She recommended limiting hours for bars near residences.
- Cabanas Nightclub: Several residents complained about noise, parking, and property damage from Cabanas, requesting regulatory attention.
- Other speakers, including community leaders and parents, expressed concerns for safety, especially for children and women attending the mosque.
Discussion Items
- Circle K Fine Non-Payment: The board discussed a fine issued in October 2025 that remains unpaid. The city attorney clarified that the board can revoke or suspend permits for failure to comply. The board directed regulatory officer Mosier to visit the store and request payment, with a follow-up at the next meeting. A motion was passed (unanimous) to recommend to city council that the ordinance include a specific time limit for payment of civil penalties.
- Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar (5606 Brandon Road): A hearing officer recommended a five-day suspension or $500 fine for a violation sustained on October 16, 2025. After discussion, the board voted (9-0) to affirm a five-day suspension. The suspension dates were set as November 25–29, 2025, over the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Mexic Wings LLC (3202 Brainerd Road): The hearing officer recommended a five-day suspension and additional training. The board voted (9-0) to sustain the recommendation and also voted (9-0) to require completion of the training within 60 days. Suspension dates were set as November 25–29, 2025.
- Motion to Visit Establishments: Board member proposed that regulatory and police visit Shady's Corner, Let's Paint, and Cabanas to inspect and report back. The motion passed (8-1, Veronica opposed).
Key Outcomes
- Suspension Sustained: Applebee's – five-day suspension, Nov 25–29, 2025.
- Suspension Sustained: Mexic Wings – five-day suspension, Nov 25–29, 2025, plus 60 days to complete training.
- Circle K Fine: Regulatory will issue a reminder; possible further action if unpaid.
- City Council Recommendation: Board voted (9-0) to recommend city council add a payment deadline to the fine ordinance.
- Regulatory Visits: Police and regulatory to inspect Shady's Corner, Let's Paint, and Cabanas and report back at the next meeting.
- No immediate action was taken on Shady's Corner license; the board noted that a citation from police is required to initiate revocation proceedings.
Meeting Transcript
Bertha. Y'all ready? All right. Good morning, everyone. I'd like to welcome you to the Chattanooga Beer Board meeting. Uh all meeting attendees must sign in on the designated sign-in sheet or sunshine law. So if you haven't signed in on the sign in sheet, please do. Uh all electronic devices uh should be muted or turned off so as not to disrupt the meeting, so I'll be the first one to be sure to do that. Uh any of individuals that will be coming and wishing to address the board today must do so from the podium, and when you do, please state your name before making your comments and please speak up as best you can because sometimes it's a little hard for us to hear up here. Uh first item on our agenda is the approval of the minutes for the October sixteenth, twenty twenty-five meeting. Is there a motion for approval? Is there a second? All in favor of approving the minutes of October sixteenth, twenty twenty-five, signify by saying I. Opposed. Uh, will need to be sworn in by Lori. So if you're here today for an application for a bear license or permit, uh, you need to be sworn in at this time. Anybody here? Yes. Yes, ma'am. Okay, thank you. Now we've had some late attendees who have not signed in on the sign in sheet. So we can keep this moving along when you leave. If you want to go ahead and do that, that's fine. But when you leave, please sign that sheet. That's for the sunshine law in Tennessee that requires us to have a signature of everyone that attends the meeting. We I would appreciate that very much. We have number one sculpture fields at Montague Park or fire up the fields. TE 103 has been approved by regulatory. We have uh number two vision hospitality management LLC bearer 1367. It's been approved by regulatory. Next section, beer applications approved by regulatory is Tennessee River George Gorge Trust TE 104. Approved by regulatory. Oh wait, ma'am, I'm sorry. Uh T104 is uh Chatterjack. Yes. That is not approved by zoning. So Alicia Hickson is organizer 201 River Front Parkway. It's not approved by zoning. We know the date of that event yet. I don't see it on here. Uh did you have that date? Yes. So that event is already passed due. Uh it's already occurred, and they did not sell anything. Got it. So it's off the agenda. Since it was not approved by zoning, it uh they did not feel comfortable moving forward, so they just applied the break. All right, okay. And number two, 5902 Inc. Doing business as Eagles Food and Fuel Beer 1368.
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