Chattanooga Beer Board Meeting - June 4, 2026
Chattanooga Beer Board Meeting
The Chattanooga Beer Board met on June 4, 2026, to consider beer permit applications, address outstanding violations, and act on hearing officer recommendations. Several permits were approved, a deferral motion was defeated, and a board member announced his departure.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the May 21, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.
- Previously Approved Permits: The board acknowledged that Beer 1401 (MAPCO #863), Beer 1415 (Camilla), and temporary permit Smart Music Project Twilight Firefly Market (TE 137) had been approved by regulatory staff.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public addressed the board.
Discussion Items
- New Temporary Beer Permits: The Big Nine Roots Festival (TE 134) was placed on hold by zoning. The Smart Music Project Garden Gala (TE 135) was canceled. Paula Wilkes, president of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, described the Bessie Smith Big Nine Music Fest as a free one-day community event featuring local entertainment, food trucks, and vendors.
- Beer Applications from Last Meeting:
- Flatlands LLC (Champions Chicken): Initially deferred pending the hearing officer's recommendation. After the recommendation was affirmed, the permit was approved.
- Cabanas Nightclub and Event Center (Beer 1411): Background check issues were resolved; the board approved the ownership change for Gabrielle Sosa and Jesus Esquivel Serrano.
- 423 Taco (Beer 1414): Approved for ownership change at 401 Market Street.
- Chi Chi's (Beer 1416) and Mexiville (Beer 1417): Outstanding fines from past violations were discussed. A motion to defer both permits to the June 18 meeting failed (5-2). The board then approved both permits, with the understanding that the fines would be addressed at the next meeting.
- New Beer Application: La Katrina Mexican Food LLC (Beer 1418) was approved for a brick-and-mortar location at 5507 Highway 153. The applicant clarified that beer would be sold from the physical space, not from a food truck, in compliance with city code.
- Previous Violation and Hearing Officer Recommendation: The board considered the hearing officer's recommendation to dismiss a violation against Champions Chicken due to a license renewal error. The board voted to affirm the dismissal (6–0–1, with one abstention).
Key Outcomes
- Permits Approved: MAPCO #863, Camilla, Smart Music Project Twilight Firefly Market, Cabanas Nightclub, 423 Taco, Chi Chi's, Mexiville, La Katrina, and Champions Chicken.
- Deferral Defeated: The motion to defer Chi Chi's and Mexiville to June 18 was defeated.
- Hearing Officer Recommendation Affirmed: The dismissal of the Champions Chicken violation was upheld.
- Board Member Announcement: JW, representing District 2, announced he is not seeking reappointment after three years of service. The board expressed gratitude.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after all business was concluded.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call this meeting to order the Chattanooga Beer Board. Welcome everyone. All meeting attendees must sign in over here at the sign-in sheet for the sunshine law. At this time we'd like you to mute all your electronic devices, so be sure and turn your phones and other electronic equipment off. Any individuals wishing to address the board must do so from the podium. And please state your name before making comments and please speak up. All right. First item on our agenda is the approval of the minutes for the May 21st, 2026 meeting. Is there a motion? Make a motion to approve May 21st, 2026. Second. Second motion. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. All right. At this time, if you're gonna come before the meeting, you'll need to be sworn in by our court reporter, please. Anyone that's gonna be speaking today is for anything in this time to each of you songs where our farm the testimony you're meeting today. Would be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing by the truth to help us. Thank you. All right. Yes, sir. Uh number one, beer 1401. Umazara Enterprise Incorporated doing business as MAPCO number 863 was approved. Okay. And beer 1415 uh para hospitality group LLC doing business as Camilla was also approved. Right. Okay. Next item on our agenda is new temporary beer permit applications. Uh have any of those been approved. Uh one of those has been approved. Uh number three, which is the Smart Music Project, uh to break event 137. Okay. Uh I believe number two, that one was canceled. Got that. All right. So and then uh number one is on hold by zoning, which is the uh big nine roots festival. All right. Uh TE 134. Okay. All right. Is there a representative here for that application? Great. If you'll come before us and Zach, can you fill us in? Oh, it's good. Oh, you just approved it. Okay, well, thank you for being here this morning. Uh it's pretty good. While you're here, tell us a little bit about what's going on. We have the Bessie Smith Big Nine Music Face.
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