Knoxville Beer Board Meeting – March 23, 2026

The Knoxville Beer Board met on March 23, 2026, to consider beer permit applications, compliance with annual CAST (Responsible Alcohol Sales Training) requirements, and an administrative hearing for a non-compliance complaint. The board approved multiple special event permits and new permits, postponed several items, and took enforcement actions regarding CAST compliance, including referring some businesses to a hearing officer and granting others one-month extensions.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the previous meeting were approved without corrections.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak.

Discussion Items

Officer Reports and Compliance Checks

• Officer Presley reported on four TABC alcohol compliance checks conducted between February 26 and March 12, 2026. Businesses cited for selling alcohol to a minor included: Palancho's Mexican, Hilton Garden Inn, Chesapeake's, Kroger on Broadway, Marriott Knoxville Downtown, Balter Beer Works, Cumberland House Knoxville (Feb 26); Tokyo Sushi and Steakhouse, Aubrey's in Powell (Mar 3); True by Hilton Knoxville North, Holiday Inn at Merchant Center Boulevard, Zelante Taquiera (Mar 11); La Pinata Mexican Restaurant (Mar 12).
• Mr. Johnson reported an ongoing non-compliance case for Union Jacks (failure to file remedial plan and pay fine on time) scheduled for a preliminary hearing in April.
• The beer fund balance is $268,000; fines received total approximately $17,000 against a budget of $10,000 (169% of budget).

Permit Applications

• Approved (complete files): Dogwood Arts (three special events: Chalk Walk Apr 11, Festival Apr 24-26, Knox Walls May 30), Evape Lounge (two permits), Hayes Historical Museum Foundation (two permits: Dusk in the Dogwoods, 4th of July on Maybury's Hill), Knoxville Track and Field Club (marathon), Rosaritas Mexican Cantina, Volunteer Landing Marina, YeeHaw Brewing (four permits, pending surrender of existing permits).
• Approved Pending Final Documentation: Casa Don Gallo (needs CO), Beard and Hearle Field House (needs CO, health dept, surrender), Southern Grid LLC (needs CO, health dept), Iron Forge Brewing Company (needs CO, health dept), Sunrise Market (needs CO and CAST class).
• Postponed: Crafty Bastard Brewery (8C, 8D), Petros (8G), Plugged In (8H) – all postponed to April 28, 2026, at the applicants' request.
• Addendum – Pizza Project (Matt Ford): Discussed delays in obtaining permits; board approved a 120-day extension to July 2026.

Administrative Hearing – Flip Side Pub (Union Jacks) on North Shore Drive

• Permittee Aaron Nelson explained that he missed the deadline to submit a remedial plan and pay the fine due for two underage sales within two years, citing a misunderstanding and failure to receive mail.
• The law department had already filed a non-compliance complaint (scheduled for preliminary hearing in April). The board could refer the underage sale issue to a hearing officer or take no further action.
• After discussion, board members expressed support for the establishment and noted that the fine had been paid and a revised plan submitted (though late). No motion was made to refer; the chair ruled the matter dead, meaning the underage sale issue will not be added to the non-compliance hearing.

CAST (Responsible Alcohol Sales Training) Compliance Hearings

• Mr. Frost explained that many permittees were out of compliance with annual CAST class requirements. Letters were sent January 28 and March 12, 2026.
• The board heard from several businesses and took the following actions:
  • Quality Restaurant Concepts (Applebee's): Manager Jared Hickson explained staffing turnover. Motion to send to hearing officer passed (vote: ayes had it, no further detail on count; dissent noted). Sent to hearing officer.
  • Dollar General – Sutherland Avenue: No one present. Motion to send to hearing officer passed.
  • Dollar General – Amherst Road: No one present. Motion to send to hearing officer passed.
  • Dollar General – South Rich Road: Manager Megan Inman explained turnover and lack of communication from district management. Motion to postpone for one month (to April meeting) passed, giving time to complete background check, add to permit, and attend CAST class.
  • Dollar General – Strawberry Plains Pike: Manager Stacey Murray cited similar issues. Motion to postpone for one month passed.
  • Galaxy Smoke: Permittee Hitash Petadar stated it was his first offense and he plans to attend this Thursday. Motion to postpone for one month passed.
  • Hampton and Sweets (Northwise Garber): Matthew Doyle had attended CAST but was not on the permit; he needed background check. Motion to postpone for one month passed.
  • The Melting Pot: Manager Tristan Band, who is in process of buying the business, explained the previous bar manager failed to attend. Motion to postpone for one month passed.
  • Top Delhi and Market: Business was closed; no action taken (presumably not present).
• Councilmember Parker suggested that for first-time attendees, a postponement rather than immediate referral might be appropriate, a view shared by some other members.

Key Outcomes

• All permit applications listed above were approved, postponed, or approved pending documentation as detailed.
• The Pizza project (Matt Ford) received a 120-day extension to July 2026.
• The Union Jacks administrative hearing resulted in no additional referral; the non-compliance matter will proceed to a preliminary hearing in April.
• Three businesses (Applebee's, Dollar General Sutherland, Dollar General Amherst) were referred to a hearing officer for CAST non-compliance.
• Five businesses (Dollar General South Rich, Dollar General Strawberry Plains, Galaxy Smoke, Hampton and Sweets, The Melting Pot) received one-month extensions to come into CAST compliance.
• Councilmember Parker requested an update on the Hollaroo project but the meeting concluded without addressing it.