The City Café Diner voluntarily relinquished its beer permit in 2014 in order to stay open 24 hours each day. A provision in the Chattanooga city code specifies that alcohol cannot be sold from 3 a.m.-8 a.m. That became a conflict since the business was open during those hours when sales are not allowed.
Assistant City Attorney Keith Reisman said Thursday that the dispute with the city has now been litigated and settled in the state courts, with the outcome in favor of City Café Diner and with the city being unable to close down the restaurant. Beer will be locked up during the prohibited hours and the business can continue to be open.
At the meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board Thursday morning, owner Lee Epstein reapplied and was approved for a consumer beer permit in order to resume beer sales.
Management of the Lake Shore Marina has changed hands. Stephen and Charity Gary are taking over the marina and boat rentals but not the restaurant, which will continue being run by the owner. Ms. Garey told the board that the marina would like to sell beer for the convenience of their customers. With a warning of caution, discussion compared impaired drivers of boats due to alcohol to those of cars. The TWRA can deal with alcohol use of the drivers of a boat but not the marina, it was stated. The beer code limits a sale of beer to three cases and the store is responsible for enforcing that limit.
Lit Hookah Lounge and bar at 388 Somerville Ave. in North Chattanooga is changing owners. Sujalbhai Dilipkumar Patel said he has just started a new franchise and this is the second location. The first is in Johnson City, Tn. This business is defined as a smoking lounge, restaurant and full bar for ages 21 and up.
The device used was described as a water pipe consisting of a base and a hose. The base is filled with filtered water and tobacco is burned. The lounge prepares and provides the entire package and it cannot be opened once it is filled by an employee and delivered to a table. Each person is provided with a mouth piece sealed in plastic for sanitation. The owner applied and was given both a consumer and carry-out license since the bar also wishes to sell growlers that are filled and sealed.
An opinion from attorney Reisman was that a liquor license would not be permitted at an establishment that has a carry-out beer permit. This resulted in the owner asking for a revision of the beer license to exclude carry-out. It was agreed that after consulting with the ABC board, the beer permit could be altered to allow take-out sales.
Mark Ankar came to the meeting to apply for a consumer permit so beer can be sold along with food at the newest Ankar business. This newest restaurant at 7425 Commons Blvd. has been opened by the same family that owns several other restaurants in the Chattanooga area. This location, named Ankar’s Café, will have a different concept for the food it serves, said Mr. Ankar. The menu will lean toward healthy food with nothing fried. It was described as a deli restaurant with a salad bar. The vote was unanimous to approve beer sales at this business.