The Brass Register, formerly one of “Chattanooga’s most popular places,” is reopening in May in its original form, said new owner Sandra Ogle.
The Brass Register was in business from 1972 to 2000, passing from various owners. The restaurant closed in 2000, shortly after one of the owners passed away, said Ms. Ogle.
Ms. Ogle, who is a real estate investor, saw that the building was for lease and spoke with Lee Escobar, owner of Amigo’s Restaurants, and they decided to reopen the Brass Register.
With framed black and white photographs, stained glass, brass lighting, brick walls and wood floors, the dining area creates an early 1900’s feel. “Everything used is original or a duplicate,” in order to stay true to the first Brass Register, she said.
The menu is more extensive than the original offering a larger variety of appetizers, specialty sandwiches on homemade bread, soups, salads and entrees of steak, seafood and pasta, just to name a few. The restaurant will serve the original fried mushrooms and honey mustard. She said, “Everybody has been asking about that.”
Aside from the main dining room, the Brass Register will also have a cigar room, wine room, billiards with video games, pool tables, a foosball table and also a darts room. Live music performances will be held on the stage in the main dining room on the weekends.
In the past, the Brass Register was not usually thought of as a place to eat dinner. Now she said, there will be “no reason to go elsewhere.” Guests can eat dinner, order drinks from the bar or have wine in the wine room, smoke a cigar, enjoy billiards and listen to live music. She noted that the old Brass Register only had six beers on tap, but the new restaurant will have 12.
Ms. Ogle said she hopes the restaurant will draw a large lunch crowd as well. The main dining room will be non-smoking at lunch, plus the restaurant will use smoke eliminators at all times.
The weekly events schedule:
Monday - 50 cent tacos and $1 beer
Tuesday - 25 cent wings and $ 1 beer
Wednesday - karaoke
Thursday - Blues or Jazz music
Friday - free hors d'oeuvre for a limited time and live music
Saturday - live music
Sunday - Champagne brunch (will not begin right away)
The Brass Register will also hold wine tasting in the wine room.
Ms. Ogle said she expects to open the restaurant in mid May if all goes as planned.