Proof, a food and beverage incubator opening in Chattanooga, will aim to teach people how to open a bar or restaurant, and how to manage the business. Michael Robinson, representing Proof, told the Chattanooga Beer Board that he works with the Company Lab, an “accelerator” in Chattanooga for opening new enterprises.
The new business will be opening in a 6,000-square-foot building at 424 E.
M. L. King Blvd. There will be two sides in the building: one, a commissary style kitchen which will use “pop-up” food tenants and the other side will be a bar. On the bar side of the business, both draft and packaged beer will be sold and Mr. Robinson assured the beer board members that all servers will be ABC certified. Plans are to open the business four days a week.
A bar at 715 Cherry St., has a new owner and a new name. The British-themed bar, formerly known as London Calling, is now Unknown Caller. It has been managed by James Heeley since it opened in December, 2017. On Dec. 20, 2019, Mr. Heeley bought the business for his wife. He said that is all that has changed. Nothing about the operations, staff and management is different, he said, except there will be a doorman on Friday and Saturdays to assure that everyone who enters is over 21.
Hibachi & Wings & Boba Tea, 6933 Lee Highway, Suite 901, also has been sold. The new owner is Bureerat (Ming) Charoensandorn. The restaurant has been operating for a long time but has never sold beer. With the new beer license it received at the Chattanooga Beer Board meeting Thursday morning, beer will be added to the menu, as will Boba Tea, described as a tea-based, flavored beverage with bubbles.
The Creative Discovery Museum will hold its main fundraising party, Wonders of the World Amuse Um 2020, on March 7 from 7-11 p.m. Development Manager Denise Karnes said the museum is hoping to have 500 people attend the event. John Fitch Events will be the caterer and bartender serving alcohol and there will be a variety of cultural cuisines from around the world. A special events beer license was unanimously approved for the fundraiser.
The Chattanooga Beer Board has been trying to establish more consistency in its oversight of establishments that sell and serve beer in the city. Assistant City Attorney Keith Resisman, who recently retired, worked with the board to create a new ordinance in the attempt to regulate this business with the purpose of keeping the public and the streets safe. The proposed ordinance was presented to the Chattanooga City Council on Jan. 28 and received approval. The new conditions will go into effect on March 28.
One of the items that the board believes will increase safety the most is that professional training in alcohol sales will be mandatory for any person involved in serving or selling beer. After it goes into effect on March 28, employees will be given 60 days to get the required training. Additional training can be required by the beer board after a violation and verification from the professional trainer will have to be provided.
Another need that will be addressed, is a way to handle the language barrier of some applicants.
Chattanooga Police Officer John Collins suggested that a trainer make a presentation/overview to the beer board members of all the changes to the old beer ordinance to get their input before it goes into effect.