Chattanooga Police Officer John Collins told members of the City Beer Board on Thursday that, acting on numerous complaints, the Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, the Hamilton County Health Department and the Tennessee ABC Board did a series of compliance checks on May 11 with a concentration on hookah bars.
The complaints centered on these establishments allowing customers under the age of 21 inside.
A Tennessee state law specifies that if a bar allows smoking, anyone under 21 is prohibited from being inside. An exception can be made for private clubs. To qualify as a private club, a business must have a charter, must register with the state and pay for a license. Other requirements include advertising only to members of the club and the members having the ability to control the salary of employees.
During the compliance checks, Lit Hookah Lounge, 311 Sommerville Ave.,was inspected and seven-eight underage customers were inside smoking. Sujal Patel, the owner of the business, told the beer board that they were guests of members. To be a member, a person must pay $1 and sign a list. Because of the heavy smoke inside the building, Officer Collins said police could not observe any of the underage customers drinking. Mr. Patel told the board that he had a marking system for age before anyone could be served, and he thought he was in compliance with the law of allowing in the guests.
Assistant City Attorney Keith Reisman said that Lit does not meet the state requirements of being a club. Because no minors were served beer, however, the board voted to put a letter of reprimand in the company’s file. Since the compliance check, the business has been restricted to the age of 21 and up.
Cloud Nine Hookah Lounge, 1101 Hixson Pike, was also inspected the night of March 11 and multiple violations were discovered. When police entered at 10:40 p.m. out of the 45 customers present, 23 were under the age of 21. There was no system in place for proof of age. Due to the heavy smoke, again, police could not see people drinking. They did find bottles of liquor, both opened and sealed as well as many empty bottles that were stored in the kitchen area. There were also bottles of wine and one of moonshine. The bar does not have a liquor license and is not allowed to store, serve or sell liquor or wine.
The cordless land line telephone was found to be not working. Having a working land line phone is a requirement to have a beer license.
Because Cloud Nine has no liquor license, the ABC Board could only bring criminal charges against the business. The beer board, however, could issue penalties and voted five to two to revoke the beer permit. Board member Andre Harriman said, in addition to the violations, the fact that no representative came to the beer board meeting to answer the charges, showed blatant disregard and disrespect. If the business wishes to sell beer, it must reapply for a new license.
Michael Wood, the owner of Ziggy’s Bar and Grill, 607 Cherokee Blvd., told the board that things got out of hand the night of March 12 when a bar check was made. Occupancy of the building is 49, yet Officer Collins told the board that he observed over 80 people inside. He said when police showed up, so did taxis to take people away. He said the layout of the business is unusual with a front and back entrance. A karaoke bar occupies the front of the building and that night a heavy metal band was performing in the back room.
There had been a doorman with a counter at the back entrance, but the bands were changing when the compliance check began and people were leaving the back and moving to the front of the building creating a fire hazard. Mr. Wood said he tries to have start-up bands every weekend and they usually do not draw that many people - this was an exception. He said the fire marshal will not allow the back door to stay locked to help control the number of customers.
A letter of reprimand will be put in the file for Ziggy’s with the warning that there must be a doorman with a counter at both the front and back doors. Mr. Wood was also cautioned to monitor over-serving customers.
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new gas and convenience store, Citgo Food Mark, 3410 Campbell St. was approved for a beer permit.
Three special events received beer licenses at the beer board meeting. Laughing, Living and Giving on the Northshore will take place on April 22 from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. It will be held at a new event hall, 2 On the Roof, at 313 Manufacturers Road. This event will raise funds to support the park and recreations summer programs, as well as for an outgoing picnic at the end of the summer. Food will be by Lamar’s Catering, with around 200 expected to attend.
If Trees Could Sing, taking place April 22 at Coolidge Park from 6-8 p.m., is being organized by an environmental organization to raise awareness for Earth Day. Beer sales will be handled by Melanie Krautstrunk from the craft brewery Hutton & Smith.
Ride our Steel IV, put on by the Head Hunters Club, raises money for various community causes. Every year the club puts on a party for themselves. This year the party will be named “Ride for Peace” and will be held at Utopia Event Hall, 2110 Dodson Ave., from 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.