Chattanooga Beer Board Meeting - February 5, 2026

The Chattanooga Beer Board convened on February 5, 2026, to address routine approvals, beer permit applications, and violation hearings. The board approved the minutes of the January 15, 2026 meeting, considered several beer permit requests, and affirmed a 30-day suspension for The Dream along with a $1,000 fine. A tribute was paid to long-time board member Ron Smith, who had recently passed away.

Approval of Minutes

• The board unanimously approved the minutes of the January 15, 2026 meeting.

Beer Permit Applications

• Regulatory Approvals Reported: The regulatory division reported that several beer permits had been approved: BJ's Wholesale Club (carry-out beer, 401 Northgate Mall Drive), The Waymark Chattanooga (consumer carry-out, 736 Broad Street), and a temporary permit for Smart Music Project's Sweetheart Market (February 7-8, 2026, with rain date February 14).
• Cabanas Nightclub & Event Center (Deferred): The application for Cabanas (1378) was carried over from the previous meeting due to an incomplete FBI background check. The representative provided only one page of a three-page background check. The board voted to defer the application to the next meeting, pending submission of the full background check and completion of fire marshal inspections for other associated businesses.
• Mean Jeans LLC (Approved): A permit (1384) for Mean Jeans at 1800 East Main Street was approved. The application involved adding new members to the LLC, including Emerald Street Asylum LLC. The board confirmed ownership details and the surrender of an old permit. Motion passed unanimously.
• Game Day Social LLC (Approved): A permit for Game Day Social at 9453 Bradmore Lane was approved. The business is a new restaurant replacing Martha Ann's. The owner, Peter Gibson, confirmed no prior beer permit in Tennessee. The board noted the need for proper training and ABC permits for servers. Motion passed unanimously.

Previous Beer Violations

• The Dream – 30-Day Suspension and Fine: The hearing officer recommended a 30-day suspension of the beer permit for The Dream, plus a $1,000 fine. The board affirmed the recommendation. The suspension will run on the business's operating days (Thursday through Sunday). The board set the suspension period from February 19, 2026, to April 11, 2026, covering 30 operating days. The $1,000 fine must be paid within seven days. The board also noted that TABC had been notified of the violations.
• Dollar General – Continued: The hearing officer's recommendation for Dollar General was continued because no representative appeared. The board noted that Dollar General had failed to appear multiple times since the violation in September 2025. Discussion included the need to determine whether Dollar General is a responsible vendor, with a contact number for the Chattanooga TABC office provided (423-634-6434). No action was taken.

Public Discussion and Other Matters

• Distributor Responsibility: A board member raised a question about whether it is legal for beer distributors to sell to establishments with expired licenses. The city attorney indicated she would research the state statute. It was noted that establishments face storage limits regardless of purchase source.
• Tribute to Ron Smith: Board members offered condolences for the passing of long-time board member Ron Smith, who served as a volunteer for many years and was known for his institutional knowledge and dedication to Chattanooga.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of January 15, 2026 approved.
• Cabanas beer permit application deferred to next meeting.
• Mean Jeans beer permit (1384) approved unanimously.
• Game Day Social beer permit approved unanimously.
• The Dream: 30-day suspension affirmed, to run from February 19 to April 11, 2026, on operating days; $1,000 fine due within 7 days.
• Dollar General hearing continued.
• City attorney to investigate distributor selling to expired license holders.
• Meeting adjourned.