It is unusual for the Chattanooga Beer Board to deny a license to sell beer to any applicant, but that was done at the meeting Thursday morning. Janet Hamill failed to receive a beer permit for her new location of Tres Amigos at 200 Market St. In the last several years only two other businesses have been denied. One was Westside, which was suppose to be a grocery store but ended up as just a convenience store where police said drug transactions and loitering in the parking lot commonly took place.
The other business that was not given a license in 2013 was Boo-Coe’s, which was operating as an event hall with associated problems as well has having served alcohol to minors.
Previously, Tres Amigos had two locations, one in Ooltewah and the other in Ringgold, Ga. The Tennessee Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) conducts compliance checks for underage sales, and the restaurant at 9219 Lee Highway in Ooltewah failed the tests three times. The third time, after considering revoking the ABC license, a penalty of a 21-day suspension was given by the TABC, instead. At that time, Ms. Hamill surrendered the beer license. That location was closed and the restaurant has now reopened in downtown Chattanooga.
Ms. Hamill brought along a spokesperson from the accounting side of her business, Karen Trusty, who told the board about the scanner used by the restaurant was “foolproof if the person using it does what they are suppose to do.” She put the blame on servers who were dyslexic, angry that day or jamming the machine on purpose, thinking it was funny. You hired them, said Chairman of the Beer Board Christopher Keene. “No matter who made the mistake, the system failed,” said board member Trevor Atchley. When asked what the difference would be this time, the two ladies said that now the manager or bartender, not the servers, would be responsible for scanning all IDs and making a decision it there was a question about serving.
When asked if the servers had ever received professional training for alcohol sales, after all the violations the restaurant has received, Ms. Hamill said she had talked to someone in the past about doing so, but could not recall who it was. Instead, she relied on other servers to train new employees.
Past violations at the previous location can be considered if the restaurant on Market Street is ever cited to the Beer Board for an infraction, said Assistant City Attorney Keith Reisman. “It distresses me to give someone a license who has three violations,” said Mr. Keene. He suggested passing the application to the next meeting, giving the owner time to have employees totally trained in alcohol service, and then to return to the board, bringing the managers along with them, to exemplify the seriousness of selling alcohol. Anybody that is recognized by the state of Tennessee as a trainer could be used.
“One thing that I have not heard, is that we take responsibility,” said Board Member Dan Mayfield.
Board member Lee Dear made the motion to deny issuing a license, which passed. The owner is allowed to reapply, but will need to start the process completely over. “We want you to reapply and train your employees. Then come back with your managers in front of us,” said Mr. Mayfield.
Three special events beer licenses were approved on Thursday. Lee Mosley, Jr., potentate of the Shriners Hyksos Temple #123 Aeaonms, was given a permit to sell beer at Can Goods & Cocktails. This is the 12th year for the event with Mr. Mosley in charge. It will take place on Nov. 18 from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. at 2 On the Roof, 313 Manufacturer’s Road. All proceeds will go to the Chattanooga Food Bank.
Dawn Hjelseth was also approved for a special events license for The World Heavyweight Chile Championship that will be held for the eighth year at the OCI Building, 326 E. Main St., during the Main X 24 event on Dec. 3 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Victoria Love Catering will handle alcohol sales.
Three Blind Wines, a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, was also given a beer permit for the event that will take place at Stratton Hall, 3146 Broad St., on Nov. 18 from 5-11:30 p.m. This is the first year that beer will be offered in addition to wine. IDs will be checked and wrist bands issued, even though no one under 21 is expected. Each participant will bring three bottles of wine. Two will be used for tastings and one will be put in the “cellar.” When votes are tallied, the person who brought the wine with the most votes, will win “the cellar.”