Chattanooga Beer Board Meeting - December 4, 2025

The Chattanooga Beer Board convened on December 4, 2025, to consider temporary beer permit applications, discuss ongoing regulatory issues, and hear public comments. Key topics included a holiday block party permit for the Chattanooga Firefighters Association, ownership changes at Logan's Roadhouse, and a detailed report on activity at Shady's Corner Bar.

Temporary Beer Permit Applications

• Chattanooga Firefighters Association Holiday Block Party (Main x24): Joseph Fuller applied to sell beer at 218 East Main Street (fire hall) and on Station Street on December 6, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A zoning review was complicated because the event is on public property (Station Street) with no private address for the beer sales. The board deferred action pending verification of the special event permit for Main x24, noting that the application was submitted late (the day before Thanksgiving). The board encouraged the applicant to allow 30 days for future submissions.
• Logan's Roadhouse (two locations): Applications for new permits at 3592 Cummings Highway and 504 Northgate Mall Drive, Unit A (ownership change) were tabled because zoning and building approvals were pending. The board noted that once those approvals are obtained, the permits can be processed automatically without a further board appearance.
• Play Wash Pint LLC: The applicant was not present, so the item was moved to the next meeting.

Regulatory Unit Report

• Sergeant Cowan reported ongoing investigations:
  • Cabanas: Further investigation is pending; paused until next meeting.
  • Let's Paint: A camera and increased police presence appear to be helping, though parking issues remain.
  • Shady's Corner Bar (1402 Cemetery Avenue): A review from September 3 to November 23, 2025, found 18 reports associated with the area (including DUIs, narcotics, assaults, weapon law violations, disorderly conduct, and theft). None of these incidents occurred inside the bar. The Hamilton County District Attorney's Office agreed there was insufficient evidence for a citation at this time. Sergeant Cowan will continue monitoring.

Discussion Items

• Board members questioned whether DUIs or other incidents could be attributed to Shady's, noting that reports do not state patrons came from the bar. The regulatory unit and legal clarified that the city must prove the bar owner had knowledge of and failed to address disorderly conduct, and that the burden of proof is the same as under state law.
• A motion was made and unanimously approved (8-0) requesting that the Chattanooga Police Department place a surveillance camera in the area of Shady's Corner (1401/1402 Cemetery Avenue). The board will follow up at the next meeting.
• A community member (Sherry Case) explained that cameras in the Jefferson Heights neighborhood were requested through the City Council to address concerns about multiple bars (including Exile/Bad Apple and Cabanas). Another resident (Hamid Alamine) criticized the police response, asserting that the 18 calls underrepresent the problem, and accused the bar owner of non-cooperation. He also alleged that a drug investigation at Shady's was only initiated after reports of drink spiking and sexual assaults involving UTC college students.
• Callandra Smith (Hamilton County Coalition) questioned how the board handles disorderly conduct citations for bars without a parking lot, as incidents occur on nearby streets. She urged better coordination between law enforcement, regulatory units, and the board to tie incidents back to specific establishments.

Key Outcomes

• No permits were approved at this meeting. The Firefighters Association block party permit is contingent on verification of the special event permit; Logan's Roadhouse permits await zoning and building sign-off; Play Wash Pint was deferred.
• Motion passed (8-0): The board requests CPD place a surveillance camera at Shady's Corner. The item will be on the next meeting's agenda for follow-up.
• Regulatory unit will continue monitoring Shady's Corner and will seek additional information from the DA's office regarding sealed indictments.
• The board clarified that the time limit for paying beer code violations is seven days.