A motion for a 10-day suspension of the beer permit for Stumble Inn at 2925-1/2 Rossville Blvd. failed to pass on Thursday when the Chattanooga Beer Board voted in a 4-4 tie. A second motion for a 5-day suspension was approved.
Officer John Collins told the board he assisted in a fire and safety inspection around 8 p.m. on March 19 at the Stumble Inn. He said the door was locked and upon knocking, the owner, Dawn Regina Alexander, came to the other side of the door and said she could not open the door. The door had a double-keyed cylinder, and the inside lock could not be opened with the key she had. She said she was locked-in.
Office Collins said he called Fire Department personnel, and they came and gained access to the building about an hour later. Upon entering, he said, Ms. Alexander was intoxicated, and three bottles of liquor were found behind the bar.
Ms. Alexander told the board she is only open from 2-8 p.m. because there are three other bars on the corners of the intersection, and they all have live bands and the customers tend to drift over to those bars after 8 p.m. She said she was planning to clean the carpet in her establishment and had locked the door. The malfunction of the door lock had never happened before, she claimed.
When asked why she had been drinking in her establishment, which is prohibited by the beer ordinance, she said she knew it was illegal and had no defense for doing it.
Ms. Alexander had a prior violation on March 3, 2006, for consuming alcohol on the premises and received a 3-day suspension of her beer permit. Several board members said she had apparently not learned her lesson from the prior violation.
The 5-day suspension was approved 6-2.
Mary’s Lounge at 2125 McCallie Ave. was given a letter of reprimand for an incident on March 19. Officer Collins said he did a bar check around 10:30 p.m. A door to a room was locked, and an employee said no one had the key and the manager had just stepped out.
Officer Collins said the same thing had occurred at least twice before, and he has received reports that the lounge was selling alcohol on the premises. The beer ordinance states that the police cannot be inhibited from inspecting any room on the premises even if the room is not used for the consumption or storing of the beer.
No liquor was found at the location on this occasion, Officer Collins said.
Reginald Garrett, the manager, was present for the ailing owner Mary J. McSears. He said the locked door led to a storage room and the owner’s office. He said he has opened the door on other occasions for Officer Collins.
Officer Collins acknowledged that was correct, but the past two or three times he has been in there, the door was locked, and he was told, "The manager had just stepped out." The biggest hassle, he said, is finding out who is in charge whenever I go in there.
Mr. Garrett said they now have a policy that the bartender will have the key to the room if the manager steps out.
A motion for a written reprimand was made and approved. Board member Christopher Keene warned Mr. Garrett that he or the owner better not appear before the board again for the same violation or the outcome will be much more severe.
No applications for consumer or carryout beer permits were approved by the board. Three were passed to the next meeting of the board, and one was tabled.
One special event application was approved for:
Mitzi Dyer
Chattanooga Track Club
191 Chestnut St. (Chattanooga Green)
April 17, 6-10 p.m.
One wrecker application was approved for:
Tiffany Corbin
M & K Towing
3515 Clio Ave.
Class A, District 2