Three Kangaroo Express convenience stores were each fined $1,000 at the Thursday meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board. In each case, the violation was selling beer to a minor during compliance checks carried out by the Chattanooga Police Department in conjunction with the Hamilton County Coalition.
The store at 3729 Tennessee Ave. was cited on March 26 when an 18-year old took a beer to the register and the clerk did not ask to see an ID but made the sale. This was in spite of the fact that a minor’s drivers license is formatted vertically, making it easy to identify underage buyers. The computer program controlling the cash registers also requires the birth date to be entered before completing a transaction involving alcohol. In this case, the clerk just entered a date that would allow a sale.
The second and third violations occurred during compliance checks made on April 29. The clerk at the Kangaroo Express #3532 at 234 Browns Ferry Road did ask to see an ID, but made the sale to the 18-year old anyway. She later told her supervisor that she had broken her glasses and vision problems caused her error when keying in the sale. Board members noted that the different format of the driver’s license should be immediately recognizable to indicate the buyer was underage.
The citation issued to the third Kangaroo Express #3583 Cummings Highway was also given on April 29. In this case, the clerk asked to see identification, but keyed in her personal birth date which made the sale go through.
Three district managers from Kangaroo Express were present to answer questions from the board members, and to explain their training processes that are meant to prevent underage sales. The stores require all employees to undergo 32 hours of computer based training when they are hired, as well as having hands-on training from store managers, said the spokesman, District Manager Ronald Chandler.
Not only is entry level training required, but each quarter, each employee must go through retraining on restricted sales. All stores have registers that require birth dates to be entered to make a sale legitimate. Kangaroo Express is also a member of the state of Tennessee’s responsible vendor program.
“What else can you do?” asked board member Christopher Keene. Mr. Chandler said in each case that it was gross negligence on the part of the employee. The company’s policy is zero tolerance, and after the violations occurred, a district manager was immediately sent to the store to terminate the employee that made the infraction. "We don’t want to be known in the community as a business that sells alcohol to underage buyers," he said.
Suggestions coming from the board included transferring any monetary fines to the employee involved, and to conduct their own compliance checks. Mr. Keene suggested that perhaps it is a personnel hiring issue that needs to be addressed. As of now, store managers have autonomy to hire, but that matter is being reconsidered said Mr. Chandler. Also, Kangaroo Express is in an acquisition with Circle K, another chain of convenience stores, and officials are hoping to find techniques used by the other company to prevent underage sales.
Because Kangaroo Express is in the state’s Responsible Vendor program, a monetary fine can be given versus suspension of the beer license. In each of the three cases the maximum fine of $1,000 was given.
On April 4, responding to complaints received by the Chattanooga police department, a bar check was made at Bootsie Place, 1201 W. 37th St. When they arrived with a search warrant, police found alcohol that was illegal to have on the premises because the bar has no liquor license. It was found inside the business in large bottles and 117 half pints in the owner’s car in the parking lot. A customer inside was in possession of marijuana, and a revolver was discovered inside the bar area, belonging to Mary Thomas, the owner, who did not have a permit. Also found were “tip boards” which are gambling devices and cash related to gambling, in various locations around the bar and in possession of the owner.
Ms. Thomas told the board that all the activity was because “we were having a birthday party when they came in.” Board member Andre Harriman responded, “You should have had it at home.” Ms. Thomas explained that the liquor was kept out in the car because there is no liquor license and that she was just going to give it away for the party. She said the liquor inside was brought by one of the customers as were the tip boards. “Nobody told me you couldn’t have a birthday party,” she said.
A motion to revoke the license by Mr. Harriman failed on a vote of two-five. A motion to suspend the license for 30 days passed. The suspension will begin May 21.
Six new beer licenses were granted at the Thursday morning meeting. Slick’s, 309 E. Main St. was required to get a new permit due to a change of location. This restaurant was described as a gourmet burger joint and craft beer bar. It is a no smoking establishment so customers under the age of 21 are allowed.
Jefferson’s Restaurant, 618 Georgia Ave. is under new ownership. This business also has two other locations in Tennessee, one in Alabama and is franchised at 16 other locations. The director of training for the chain said they sell a lot of wings, burgers, oysters and a little beer.
Hutton & Smith Brewing Co., 431 E. Martin Luther King Blvd. was given a distributor, consumer and carry-out license. The owners said it is a small brewery and will operate a tap room. Sealed 64 ounce growlers will be sold to-go.
The Pub on Frazier, 346 Frazier Ave. is in the old location of North Chatt Cat. The owner told the board that it will now be more neighborhood friendly, and that a lot of tourists are expected. Burgers, sandwiches and salads will be served.
Mike’s Smokehouse, serving “competition-grade barbeque” is coming to 3147 Broad Street. Owner John McClellan said it will primarily be a restaurant with the focus on food. Beer and liquor will just enhance the food, he said. Hours of operation will be from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays and open until 11 p.m. on weekends, seven days a week.
Pop-A-Top will be opening at 3001 Rossville Blvd. It was described as a small sports bar with pool tables, serving beer with chips and no food.
Special Events Beer Licenses were given for three upcoming events. On Thursday, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust will have a yearly fundraiser at The Tennessee River Place from 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Approximately 400 people are expected for the $100 per ticket party. A heavy catered meal will be served along with beer and a specialty drink made by Tremont Tavern.
The Chattanooga Craft Beer Festival will take place at the First Tennessee Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Blvd. on Saturday, from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Two ounce samples of local and national beers will come with the price of the ticket to enter. There will be live music and food trucks will be available for purchase.
Phillip Grymes, executive director of Outdoor Chattanooga was given a beer license for the beer garden that will be set up at 850 Market Street at Miller Plaza during the VW U.S.A. Cycling Road Race. It will take place for the third year, on May 25 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sierra Nevada will serve from kegs at the beer garden as well as in the V.I.P. area.