Four businesses in Chattanooga were approved for a beer license at a meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board Tuesday morning.
John McCune, an advanced sommelier, told the board members that he has had a 30-year career in the field of fine dining and wine. His business’ name Golden Slope is a reference to the Cote d’or, or Golden Slope of Burgundy.
A year ago, he started the Tennessee Wine Train by partnering with the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum which now offers a train ride of several hours, with dinner and wine included.
He also told the board that he had always wanted to have a jazz bar. He will be taking his love of food and wine a step further by opening J. Macs at 608 Georgia Avenue. The new jazz bar will be open to the public. The wine and cheese bar can also be used as a private event space. Opening will be before April 1.
Mr. McCune received a consumer beer license for the Georgia Avenue business and a caterer license for the Wine Train which has a kitchen. With that, he will also be able to cater events at private homes.
Taco Mac, 423 Market St., is adding a carry-out permit for the established restaurant that already has a consumer beer permit. Heather Noland told the beer board that their new growler machine can fill, seal and label craft beers in 32 oz. cans. The cans are a new way to package growlers that have traditionally been sold in glass jugs. The cans will be for one-time use and are recyclable. More than one can be purchased at a time because they will be sealed and consumption from the growlers is not allowed at the restaurant.
Forker’s BBQ, a new barbeque restaurant at 4767 Highway 58, Suite 173, was given a consumer beer license for in-house consumption as well as a carry-out beer license for growlers. The small establishment will have just eight tables. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and it will be open on Saturdays until 3 p.m. Owner Carla Urffer said the restaurant is located in the same strip shopping center as Baskin Robbins.
The gas station convenience store Sunrise Market, 6405 Hixson Pike, applied for and was approved for a carry-out beer license. The new license was needed because the business changed owners.
A special event beer permit was given to Robert Lee and Lindsay Eskridge for Rhythm & Remedy Fest that will be held at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Gardens, 1400 Market St., on March 21 from noon until 10 p.m. The organizers said they are music lovers and the event is meant to “celebrate the local community and focus on the things that can bring us together-- a remedy-- with a meal, a drink a song and friendship and especially a community.” There will be around 10 local restaurants and craft breweries that will become one restaurant that day and around nine local bands, said Mr. Lee. A component to the event is that people will be able to donate a “name-your-price ticket” to one of three local charities. The donations can be made to The Humane Educational Society, to Doors Open Jazz or to Welcome Home Chattanooga.