The Yellow Deli is back in Chattanooga after a 35-year hiatus.

The dinery and bakery operated by a communal church group opened in early April next to the UTC campus at 737 McCallie Ave. Parking is nearby at J. Avery Bryan Funeral Home.

Ed Wiseman, who helped launch the original Yellow Deli in Brainerd in the early 1970s, said, "We have had so many people tell us they are happy to have us back. The response from the university faculty and students has been overwhelming. The students are glad to have a safe place to go to eat, study and socialize."

The group spent several months renovating an old building, using mainly recycled materials.

Mr. Wiseman said the group was able to obtain barnwood from an old barn that was due to be torn down on the Frank Mars estate at Pulaski, Tn. The group located mahogany doors from another source and obtained heart pine from the old Standard, Coosa, Thatcher plant.

The new Yellow Deli was designed to resemble the original unit, including an upstairs balcony, Mr. Wiseman said.

The group was founded by Gene Spriggs, who has returned to Chattanooga and is working as a busboy at the new Yellow Deli. Mr. Wiseman, who joined the group in early 1974 after the opening the previous year, is a waiter.

He said the Yellow Deli is being operated "by our children who grew up in the group."

He said the first Yellow Deli was at the old Nickle Bag on Brainerd Road near the current Food Lion. It later moved to McCallie Avenue across from Warner Park in the Aeropagus Christian center.

Mr. Wiseman said that after several years, the group decided to leave Chattanooga and relaunch in New England. He said the exodus was brought on by "some people with an agenda who went around fomenting fear about us."

He said a number of people have told him recently "they feel really bad about what happened and the way we were treated. They say they hope it doesn't happen again."

Mr. Wiseman said, "Our child-rearing practices were criticized, but you can come in and see how our children have turned out and how happy they are."

Mr. Wiseman said the group has acquired homes at 900 Oaks St., in the 900 block of McCallie Avenue and on North Seminole.

He said the houses and the family church meetings there are open to the public. He said there are morning and evening get-togethers and a Friday night celebration.

Mr. Wiseman said the group began operating in New England under the name Common Ground. He said it was so successful that it has spread to 50 communities in nine countries.

He said there are plans to add more Yellow Delis in the South. The newest units will be at Pulaski, Tn.; Savannah, Ga.; Hillsboro, Va.; Asheville, N.C.; Brunswick, Ga., and Arcadia, Fla.

A Yellow Deli reunion is set for Sunday, May 18, from 2 p.m. to dark at the new location.