The Cheesecake Factory at 2084 Hamilton Place Blvd. will be opening at the beginning of December. The restaurant is making a long-term commitment for being in Chattanooga. The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, Inc. has signed a 20-year lease and built a new building, said attorney Brant Phillips, representing the company at the City Beer Board meeting Thursday morning, where they received a license to sell beer.
This location will be the company’s fifth in Tennessee, with two already operating in Nashville, one in Knoxville and another in Memphis.
Worldwide, there are 204 Cheesecake Factories.
“Rigor will be the name of the game with how alcohol is being served,” said attorney Phillips. He has worked for the company for 12 years in Tennessee and there has never been a violation. The company has a zero tolerance policy for servers, requiring them to check every ID. If they fail to do so, they are terminated on the spot.
Douglas Marks, representing the new owners of The Chattanoogan Hotel, 1201 Broad St., was also approved for a beer permit on Thursday. Ascent Hospitality, a management company based in Buford, Ga., completed the purchase from the city of Chattanooga on Oct. 4. The firm now owns or operates 31 hotels. This is the first opportunity in Chattanooga, said Mr. Marks. The hotel will be substantially upgraded, he said. The entire food and beverage team has been retained and all are certified in alcohol sales, he told the Beer Board.
Gina Bennett received a consumer/carry-out beer permit for her business, Sing It or Wing It, 410 Market St. A new license was required because of an ownership change.
Three businesses were approved to sell beer at the annual event, Main X 24, the first weekend in December.
This will be the 10th year that Greenspaces will hold the World Heavyweight Chili Championship, said Dawn Hjelseth, director of development at Greenspaces. It will be in the parking lot at OCI, 326 E. Main St., from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Dec. 1. Victoria Love will staff the bartenders and servers.
Josh Hyde was given a special events beer permit for Main X 24 at his business, Mrs. Griffin’s Foot Long Hot Dogs, 847 E. Main St. Beer and food will be available in the parking lot next to Central Avenue. There will be live music, and Mr. Hyde is hoping to have a local craft brewery staff and sell their beer. The restaurant will close that night at 6 p.m. and afterward, a food truck will be available in the lot alongside the beer tent.
Curtis Greene with Chattanooga Cigar Club, 1518 Market St., also received a special event beer license for the Main X 24 celebration. This is the first time that this business has participated. There will be outdoor activities, including live performers from noon until 8 p.m. and then everything will move inside.